Suspected ETSU Carjacker Arrested in California

The man suspected of carjacking an East Tennessee State University student last week is now in custody in California. ETSU Public Safety Director Jack Cotrel says Oakland, California, police arrested David Lee Forney Friday night. Cotrel says Forney used a gun to attack a student out of her car behind ETSU’s Culp Center last Monday. Officers chased the man all the way into North Carolina, but lost sight of him near Mars Hill.

Cotrel says when Oakland police pulled over Forney for playing his music too loud, they also found out he wasn’t carrying a driver’s license. Cotrel says Forney was found driving the Ford Mustang he stole from the ETSU student. Forney now faces federal charges of carjacking, aggravated assault, and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Cotrel says ETSU is working to extradite the suspect.