Campus Alert Archive
TSU

Former TSU Student Calls in Bomb Threat From Cincinnati: Police Sweep Buildings, Suspect Arrested Day Later

TNbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence
Confirmed HoaxDetermined to be a hoax. The institutional response is documented because it reveals how the alert system performed under a perceived real threat.

On September 15, 2025, Tennessee State University received a verbal bomb threat from a former student who demanded the historically Black university be closed and claimed to have placed an explosive device on campus. Metro Nashville Police and the FBI swept the buildings while the campus stood on heightened alert; the threat was deemed non-credible and the suspect was arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio the following day.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Tennessee State University
Hbcu · TN
~7,600 studentsTiger Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTSMS
Approximate reconstruction255 chars
TSU Alert: Out of an abundance of caution, increased police presence is on campus due to a reported threat. MNPD and the FBI are investigating. There is no immediate danger. Avoid the area and follow instructions from law enforcement. Updates will follow.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

TSU contacted the Metro Nashville Police Department and the FBI immediately after receiving the verbal threat from a caller demanding the university close
MNPD and FBI agents swept buildings for explosives and found no device
TSU spokesperson confirmed the suspect was a former student living in Cincinnati who was never physically present in Nashville at the time of the threat
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction238 chars
TSU Alert: All-clear. After a thorough sweep with Metro Nashville Police and the FBI, the threat has been determined to be not credible. Normal operations will resume. Increased security will remain on campus. Thank you for your patience.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

After the sweep concluded, the threat was deemed not credible and the lockdown was lifted
TSU announced heightened security would remain in place across campus
The arrest of the former student in Cincinnati came the next day, September 16, 2025
Context

Background

On September 15, 2025, Tennessee State University — Tennessee's only public HBCU — received a verbal bomb threat from a caller who demanded the university be closed and claimed to have placed an explosive device on campus. The university immediately contacted the Metro Nashville Police Department and the FBI, who swept buildings for explosives and found nothing. The threat came amid a national wave of hoax threats against HBCUs four days after seven HBCUs were locked down on September 11, 2025 by coordinated calls the FBI later determined to be hoaxes. TSU spokespersons confirmed the suspect was a former TSU student living in Cincinnati, Ohio who was never physically present in Nashville at the time of the threat. The suspect was arrested in Cincinnati on September 16, 2025. TSU then increased security across the Nashville campus. The incident occurred during an exceptionally tense period — days later, MAGA-affiliated protesters with anti-DEI signs entered TSU's campus and were escorted off by law enforcement after Black students protested, escalating campus security concerns at the historically Black institution.
Analysis

Key Findings

TSU was targeted four days after the coordinated September 11, 2025 wave of HBCU hoax threats, suggesting the institution remained a focal point for racially motivated harassment
The suspect, a former TSU student, was located and arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio within 24 hours — an unusually fast resolution compared to most swatting cases
TSU's response leveraged dual federal-local investigation (FBI plus MNPD) reflecting the seriousness with which threats targeting HBCUs were treated in fall 2025
The incident accelerated TSU's plans to upgrade campus security infrastructure, which were already underway after the September 11 wave
Outcome
No injuries. Buildings were searched and no device was found. The former TSU student responsible was arrested in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 16, 2025 and charged with making threats. TSU implemented heightened security measures campus-wide.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Former TSU student accused of bomb threat arrested in Cincinnati (WSMV)
    wsmv.com
  2. News
    Former Tennessee State University student arrested in Ohio after bomb threat (Fox 17)
    fox17.com
  3. News
    Suspect charged with making threats against TSU (WKRN)
    wkrn.com
  4. News
    Heightened security at TSU after bomb threat (WSMV video)
    wsmv.com
  5. News
    Black Students Confront Right-Wing Visitors as HBCU Security Tensions Grow (Capital B News)
    capitalbnews.org
Tags
bomb-threathbcutennesseenashvilleverbal-threatformer-studentarrest-madepost-september-11-hbcu-wavefbi-investigationHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion