Former Virginia Tech student in ICE custody following gun charges

BLACKSBURG, Va. – The former Virginia Tech student who was arrested on gun charges is now under the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Nineteen-year-old Yunsong Zhao is accused of having a Bushmaster XM-15 rifle, illegally paired with a 30 round magazine. 

It is legal to have the rifle and magazine separately, but it is against the law to have them together. 

Zhao was on a student visa but he is not a student anymore since he was expelled. 

He has been in the Roanoke City Jail since Saturday. 

A judge last week said Zhao could be released from Montgomery County on $2,500. It was expected that if he posted bond and was released, ICE would pick him up. 

ICE had lodged a detainer on Zhao on January 30. On March 3, the Montgomery County Jail transferred Zhao to ICE custody after he posted bond, according to an ICE spokesperson. 

Prosecutor Mary Pettitt says the actions by ICE will not have an impact on the case in Montgomery County.