Jacksonville police investigating ‘bomb and threat of violence’ at Edward Waters University

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating a bomb and threat of violence at Edward Waters University’s campus, after the school received an anonymous threat Tuesday morning.

All EWU in-person activities, classes and university operations, including meetings and athletics practices, are canceled at this time.

According to Theodore Reynolds, chief of EWU’s campus safety and security, JSO received the call of a bomb threat at 3:25 a.m.

STORY: Increased police presence at University of North Florida after threat posted on social media

A person told police there would be “incendiary” devices on north, south, and east parts of campus that would go off at 12:30 p.m. That person also reportedly threatened to go on campus and “shoot up” campus Tuesday afternoon.

JSO officers and K9s, as well as campus safety officials have been investigating on campus and have not found anything out of the ordinary, Reynolds told Action News Jax.

We’re told cafeteria staff are the only ones on campus right now, as they coordinate how to get meals to students in their dorms.

The university does not anticipate reopening campus for the rest of the day, even if search continues to come up empty.

Action News Jax saw a handful of students wandering around campus Tuesday, unaware of the threat and that the campus is closed.

Students and parents can sign up to receive notifications about campus safety at EWU by visiting: https://ewc.omnilert.net/subscriber.php

RELATED: At least 6 HBCUs targeted by bomb threats

Action News Jax reported on Monday when at least six historically Black colleges and universities were targeted by bomb threats.

Southern University and A&M, Howard University, Bethune-Cookman University, Albany State University, Bowie State University and Delaware State University were all targeted by bomb threats, CNN reported.

At 5 p.m., Bishop Frank M. Reid III, (Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District, AME Church) and EWU President Zachary Faison will hold a news conference conference regarding the threat of violence against EWU. Action News Jax will have updates LIVE on CBS47 and FOX30 beginning at 5 p.m.

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