{
  "id": "2024-07-23-monmouth-university-bomb-threat",
  "slug": "monmouth-university-bomb-threat-2024-07-23",
  "institution": {
    "name": "Monmouth University",
    "shortName": "Monmouth",
    "state": "NJ",
    "type": "private-masters",
    "enrollment": 6200
  },
  "incident": {
    "date": "2024-07-23",
    "type": "bomb-threat",
    "cleryCategory": "emergency-notification",
    "resolution": "confirmed-hoax",
    "headline": "Emailed bomb and armed-person threat prompts 7.5-hour overnight lockdown; none found",
    "headlinePublic": "Emailed bomb and armed-person threat prompts 7.5-hour overnight lockdown; none found",
    "summary": "In the early morning hours of July 23, 2024, [MUPD received reports of an email](https://www.monmouth.edu/president/2024/07/23/update/) alleging a bomb threat and claiming the sender was armed and hiding on campus. A [lockdown was issued at 1:32 AM EDT](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/monmouth-university-new-jersey-lockdown-emergency/5622689/). Multiple law enforcement agencies swept the campus and [found no evidence of any threat](https://abc7ny.com/post/new-jersey-emergency-police-monmouth-university-west-long/15084925/). The all-clear was issued at 9:05 AM EDT, with offices opening at 10:00 AM EDT.",
    "outcome": "No evidence of a threat was found after a thorough campus sweep. The all-clear was issued at 9:05 AM EDT. Offices opened at a delayed time of 10:00 AM EDT."
  },
  "alerts": [
    {
      "sequence": 1,
      "type": "initial",
      "timestamp": "2024-07-23T01:32:00-04:00",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "There is an emergency at Monmouth University. A lockdown is in effect. This is not a drill. Please close and lock all doors and await further instructions.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/monmouth-university-new-jersey-lockdown-emergency/5622689/",
      "sourceDescription": "NBC New York, quoting Monmouth University lockdown alert at 1:32 AM",
      "annotations": [
        "Sent at 1:32 AM EDT on July 23, 2024, after MUPD received reports of the threatening email",
        "The 'This is not a drill' language is a critical component that distinguishes real alerts from tests",
        "The email claimed the sender had planted bombs and was armed and hiding on campus"
      ],
      "characterCount": 155
    },
    {
      "sequence": 2,
      "type": "all-clear",
      "timestamp": "2024-07-23T09:05:00-04:00",
      "channel": "multi-channel",
      "verbatimText": "All clear. Our investigation has been concluded and there is no threat to campus. The shelter-in-place has been lifted.",
      "isVerbatimConfirmed": true,
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.monmouth.edu/president/2024/07/23/update/",
      "sourceDescription": "Monmouth University official all-clear alert at 9:05 AM EDT on July 23, 2024, reproduced verbatim across multiple outlets including NJBIZ and CBS New York referencing the university's official communications",
      "annotations": [
        "Verbatim all-clear alert text confirmed via multiple sources quoting the official Monmouth communication at 9:05 AM EDT on July 23, 2024; source URL is the official Monmouth University President's update page",
        "Offices were given a delayed opening of 10:00 AM EDT to allow the transition from lockdown to normal operations, this detail was included in the president's narrative message, not the alert itself",
        "The 7.5-hour lockdown for a hoax email reflects the thoroughness required when both bombs and an armed person are claimed"
      ],
      "characterCount": 119
    }
  ],
  "context": "In the early morning hours of July 23, 2024, [Monmouth University received an email threatening both bombs and an armed person on campus](https://www.monmouth.edu/president/2024/07/23/update/). MUPD issued a lockdown at 1:32 AM EDT with the message ['This is not a drill'](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/monmouth-university-new-jersey-lockdown-emergency/5622689/). [ABC7 New York reported](https://abc7ny.com/post/new-jersey-emergency-police-monmouth-university-west-long/15084925/) that multiple law enforcement agencies conducted a campus-wide sweep beginning around 3:15 AM EDT. [Newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/monmouth-university-lockdown-nj-shelter-place-1929005) covered the incident nationally. [NJ 101.5](https://nj1015.com/threat-alert-monmouth-university/) and [Daily Voice Middletown](https://dailyvoice.com/nj/middletown/monmouth-university-lockdown-order-lifted-after-email-made-bomb-shooting-threats/) provided local coverage. No evidence of any threat was found, and the all-clear was issued at 9:05 AM EDT, a 7.5-hour lockdown. The Monmouth University President issued an [official update](https://www.monmouth.edu/president/2024/07/23/update/) acknowledging the disruption and thanking law enforcement.",
  "keyFindings": [
    "The verbatim lockdown alert ('This is not a drill') is preserved from NBC New York's reporting, a critical phrase in emergency communications",
    "The 7.5-hour lockdown for a dual bomb-and-shooter threat reflects the extensive search required when both explosive devices and an armed person are claimed",
    "The summer timing meant fewer students were on campus, but employees and summer program participants were affected"
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "President's Update on Campus Lockdown (Monmouth University)",
      "url": "https://www.monmouth.edu/president/2024/07/23/update/",
      "type": "official-archive"
    },
    {
      "title": "Monmouth University lockdown emergency (NBC New York)",
      "url": "https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/monmouth-university-new-jersey-lockdown-emergency/5622689/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Emergency police at Monmouth University (ABC7 New York)",
      "url": "https://abc7ny.com/post/new-jersey-emergency-police-monmouth-university-west-long/15084925/",
      "type": "local-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Monmouth University lockdown NJ (Newsweek)",
      "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/monmouth-university-lockdown-nj-shelter-place-1929005",
      "type": "national-media"
    },
    {
      "title": "Threat alert at Monmouth University (NJ 101.5)",
      "url": "https://nj1015.com/threat-alert-monmouth-university/",
      "type": "local-media"
    }
  ],
  "confidence": "high",
  "tags": [
    "bomb-threat",
    "armed-person",
    "lockdown",
    "new-jersey",
    "private-university",
    "7-hour-lockdown",
    "this-is-not-a-drill",
    "hoax-email"
  ],
  "dateAdded": "2026-04-04",
  "lastUpdated": "2026-04-04",
  "addedBy": "ingestion"
}