MTSU Cancels Classes After Credible Threat

MTSU Cancels Classes After Credible Threat
Posted: Oct 9, 2008 12:26 PM



MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee State University has canceled classes after what school officials call a "credible threat."

MTSU president Sidney A. McPhee canceled classes as of noon Thursday, saying the school had received a series of threatening emails. There have reportedly been several suspicious fires, as well.

"A credible threat to our campus has been made," McPhee said in an email sent to faculty, staff and students.

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Classes will not resume until Wednesday, October 15. Other campus events will still go on as scheduled.

MTSU spokeswoman Lisa Rollins said an e-mail through Yahoo.com was sent Wednesday to an administrator on the business faculty, threatening the entire student community with bodily harm.

Rollins said the e-mail did not say how people would be harmed. She said concern was heightened by the setting of three small fires on campus recently.

After classes ended Wednesday, an e-mailed threat was more widely circulated. Rollins said also a remodeled residence hall had been temporarily evacuated Wednesday night.

This past Wednesday, Oct. 8, several campus e-mail clients received general but threatening e-mails. The author of the threat indicated that the unspecific action would take place today, Oct. 9. An investigation is being conducted to locate the sender. The campus police is asking any suspicious activity be reported immediately.

While McPhee and Johnson declined to comment on the nature of the threat, they told "Sidelines" a news conference with campus Police Chief Buddy Peaster will occur at some point today in order to ascertain more details.

NewsChannel 5 has learned that the email was reportedly sent from a computer on campus.

Authorities were questioning a person of interest.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008, several campus e-mail clients received general but threatening e-mails. The author of the threat indicated that the unspecific action would take place on October 9. An Investigation is being conducted to locate the sender. Please report any suspicious activity to Campus Police.

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - A student confessed to sending threatening e-mails that prompted Middle Tennessee State University officials to cancel classes.

"This e-mail was very generic and did not mention any particular person by name or a particular location other than the university as a whole," said MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Police patrolled the Murfreesboro campus as investigators tried to trace the source of the e-mails, which were transmitted beginning Wednesday night. Computers were confiscated from the campus for analysis by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

MTSU student Justin Davis, 19, was arrested for three different charges. He is held on $500,000 bond for three counts of aggravated arson at Miss Mary Hall and one count of act of terrorism.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25. If the bond is not paid, he be in front of judge in 10 days, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

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