COLUMBIA, Mo. (Reuters) - Police arrested a 19-year-old white man on Wednesday on suspicion of making threats on social media to shoot black people at the University of Missouri's main Columbia campus, two days after the school's president and chancellor stepped down amid protests over their handling of reports of racial abuse.

Tension was still high on the campus, where there was a greater-than-usual police presence. Several students leaving the area said they felt unsafe.

Police arrested Hunter M. Park in Rolla, Missouri, which is about 95 miles (150 km) south of Columbia, at about 1:50 a.m. local time (0750 GMT).

Park is a sophomore at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T) in Rolla, which is part of the University of Missouri System, according to a spokeswoman at the Rolla campus. He is studying computer science.

Police said the suspect's threats had circulated on social media, including Yik Yak, where an anonymous post tagged 'Columbia' late on Tuesday read, "I'm going to stand my ground tomorrow and shoot every black person I see."

Hunter Park is pictured in this undated booking photo provided by Boone County Sheriff's Department

"Some of you are alright. Don't go to campus tomorrow," another post read. “We’re waiting for you at the parking lots,” read a third post. “We will kill you.”