WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — Police say they have charged a student with a felony following a bomb threat on the campus of William & Mary on Wednesday.
William & Mary Police Chief Deb Cheesebro released a statement Wednesday night saying Barrett P. Smith, of Colonial Heights, Virginia, was charged with felony threatening to bomb or burn a building.
He is enrolled at William & Mary and is in the class of 2023.
“A threat of this kind is a serious matter. Thankfully the one received this morning turned out to be unfounded and no one was injured. We are appreciative of both the quick response from our partners at Virginia State Police and Newport News Police and the cooperation of our campus community with the necessary evacuations,” Cheesebro said.
The college posted to its website and social media just after 11 a.m. that the William & Mary Police Department (WMPD) was responding to a safety concern at a Sadler construction site.
A follow-up notice on the William & Mary website said the Sadler Center, McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, Cohen Career Center and Aromas Daily Grind needed to be evacuated as a precaution tied to the safety concern.
Just after 1 p.m., the college confirmed that bomb dogs with Virginia State Police and Newport News Police swept the area and determined the bomb threat report was unfounded. The buildings later reopened as a result.
An unrelated Surry siren test just happened to coincide around 11:15 a.m. as the investigation was underway.
Stay with WAVY on air and online for updates.