HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - Six colleges have issued all-clears after receiving bomb threats Tuesday.
Norfolk State University, Tidewater Community College, Regent University, Virginia Peninsula Community College (formerly Thomas Nelson Community College), Paul D. Camp Community College, and Eastern Shore Community College received threats.
Regent University first received reports of a bomb threat around 11:30 a.m. and issued an evacuation order for their campus while authorities investigated. As of 1:30 p.m., Virginia Beach Police said the on-site investigation concluded and Regent University is now up and running as normal.
“Everyone was pretty calm,” said Laura Forrester, who was evacuated at Regent University. “We just all walked out calmly and evacuated because we didn’t know the reality of the situation until the police force showed up.”
People at The Founders Inn hotel next to Regent University were also evacuated as a safety precaution.
“I was in my room and the alarm started going off, and they made an announcement that there was a bomb scare and for everyone to evacuate the building,” said James Jarvis of Gloucester County.
Kyra Wilkins of Norfolk was just arriving at the inn’s pool with her 8-year-old son Kaiden Johnson when people started to evacuate the hotel.
“All the staff and everybody was standing outside,” Wilkins said. “I was like, ‘A bomb threat? Here at the hotel?’”
The Norfolk Police Department received a call regarding a bomb threat in Norfolk State University's administration building shortly before noon. All students, faculty and staff were relocated as NSU Police, as well as other public safety agencies, searched the building; an all-clear was issued at 1:17 p.m., and the university resumed normal operations.
Chesapeake's Emergency Dispatch Center received a threat at 11:21 a.m. for Tidewater Community College. The caller referenced a backpack bomb located in a particular area of the school. The school has been evacuated and Chesapeake Police and Fire Marshal's conducted a thorough search. No explosive devices were found and an all-clear was given to reoccupy the building.
Eastern Shore Community College closed Tuesday due to threats and will reopen Wednesday morning at 8 a.m.
According to officials, around 1:13 p.m., the Accomack County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a potential explosive device on the second floor of the Eastern Shore Community College.
When deputies arrived at the scene they immediately started to evacuate the building until the threat could be assessed. K-9’s searched the building thoroughly and no explosive device was located. It was determined that the threat was a hoax.
Many folks were thankful no one was in any real danger.
“Just be alert at all times,” Rooke said.
The investigations are ongoing.
