Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Other Suspicious Items Found In UC Merced Attacker's Backpack

UPDATE (1:20 p.m.): Authorities say there is no indication that the stabbing at UC Merced is at all related to terrorism.

UC Merced Chancellor Dorothy Leland has released a statement about the incident, stating:

"We are in the preliminary stages of our inquiry, but based on the evidence gathered so far, including at the crime scene and at the suspect's campus dormitory room, we have no reason to believe that this was in any way related to terrorism ... At this point, it would be irresponsible to draw such conclusions based solely on the ethnicity of the suspect."

At a Thursday afternoon press conference, detectives revealed that the attacker - 18-year-old Faisal Mohammad - had some suspicious items in his backpack. Some of the items found include zip-tie handcuffs, petroleum jelly, a night vision scope, safety hammer and rolls of duct tape.

While detectives believe the items are indicative that Mohammad aimed to continue his attack, his motive remains unclear.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.

Previous story below:

MERCED, Calif. (AP) - Authorities say the student who stabbed and wounded four people at the University of California, Merced, was an 18-year-old freshman from the San Francisco Bay Area.

University spokesman James Leonard on Thursday identified 18-year-old Faisal Mohammad of Santa Clara, California, as the attacker who burst into a classroom with a hunting knife. He was shot and killed by campus police Wednesday after he ran from the building.

Police say Mohammad may have killed his intended target if not for the intervention of a construction worker who ran into the classroom to break up what he thought was a fight.

Byron Price tells Fresno news station KREE-TV that he opened the classroom door at the University of California, Merced, thinking he was going to break up a fistfight. He says those inside shouted at him to run.

Price says he kicked at the charging attacker, identified as freshman Faisal Mohammad of Santa Clara, California.

Price was stabbed in the side but says he was able to drive himself to a nearby hospital. He plans to head back to work on campus, where he was helping remodel a waiting room.

Leonard said all the victims are expected to recover. Authorities didn't release their names.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.