Campus Alert Archive
Frostburg State

Student Arrested After Social-Media Bomb Threat Empties Lane University Center, Library, and Gira Center at Western Maryland Regional University

MDbomb 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 Monday, April 24, 2023, Frostburg State University issued a BURG Alert at 6:12 p.m. EDT after a bomb threat posted to social media targeted the Lane University Center. The Lane Center, Lewis J. Ort Library, and Gira Center were evacuated while Maryland State Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal's bomb-detection K-9 units swept the buildings. An all-clear was issued Monday evening after investigators found no explosives; a Frostburg State student, Thomas Charles Lenhart, was arrested and charged with making a threat of mass violence.

Alerts
3
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Frostburg State University
Public Masters · MD
BURG Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

3 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 reconstruction197 chars
BURG Alert: FSU Police are investigating a bomb threat at the Lane Center. Avoid the Lane Center immediately. Police are investigating. Further information will be released as it becomes available.

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

BURG Alert issued at 6:12 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 24, 2023
The Lane University Center is Frostburg State's main student union building, home to dining, student organizations, and administrative offices
The bomb threat was posted to social media by a Frostburg State student, Thomas Charles Lenhart of Millersville, Maryland
UPDATESMS+18 min
Approximate reconstruction250 chars
BURG Alert Update: The evacuation has been extended to include the Lewis J. Ort Library and the Gira Center. Please evacuate these buildings immediately and avoid the area. Maryland State Police are assisting FSU Police with bomb-detecting K-9 units.

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

The evacuation expanded to include the Lewis J. Ort Library and the Gira Center shortly after the initial alert
Maryland State Police and Maryland State Fire Marshal's bomb-detection K-9 units responded to assist FSU Police
The three evacuated buildings are all clustered in the central core of Frostburg State's campus
ALL CLEARSMS
Approximate reconstruction188 chars
BURG Alert All Clear: FSU Police have determined there is no threat. The Lane Center, Lewis J. Ort Library, and Gira Center are cleared and may reopen. Normal campus operations may resume.

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

All-clear issued Monday evening, approximately three hours after the initial 6:12 p.m. EDT BURG Alert
No explosives were found during the K-9 sweep of all three evacuated buildings
An out-of-state suspect was detained during the investigation; Thomas Charles Lenhart was formally arrested the following Tuesday and charged with making a threat of mass violence
Context

Background

Frostburg State University, a public master's institution of approximately 4,400 students in the Allegheny Mountains of western Maryland, faced a bomb scare on the evening of April 24, 2023 -- less than three weeks before end of semester. A bomb threat was posted to social media targeting the Lane University Center, FSU's main student union building. FSU Police immediately issued a BURG Alert at 6:12 p.m. EDT and evacuated the Lane Center, along with the Lewis J. Ort Library and the Gira Center. Maryland State Police and the Maryland State Fire Marshal responded with bomb-detecting K-9 units to sweep the buildings. After approximately three hours, investigators determined there was no credible threat and issued an all-clear Monday evening. The following day, FSU student Thomas Charles Lenhart, 20, of Millersville was arrested and charged with making a threat of mass violence. Lenhart posted $2,500 bond and was scheduled for trial May 26, 2023. He also faced disciplinary action from the university. The incident came amid a broader wave of bomb threats targeting college campuses across the country in spring 2023, and illustrates how a single social media post can trigger significant law enforcement mobilization at smaller regional universities.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Suspect detained after bomb threat forces evacuations at Frostburg State University in Maryland -- CBS Baltimore
    cbsnews.com
  2. News
    Frostburg State University student arrested after campus bomb threat that prompted evacuation -- Tribune-Democrat
    tribdem.com
  3. News
    All-clear issued after possible bomb threat at Frostburg State University -- DC News Now
    dcnewsnow.com
  4. News
    FSU student arrested after campus bomb threat -- Cumberland Times-News
    times-news.com
Tags
bomb-threatmarylandpublic-mastersconfirmed-hoaxsocial-media-threatstudent-arrestedmass-violence-chargeno-injurieswestern-marylandHoax
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion