Coppin State

Baltimore's Two HBCUs Locked Down Simultaneously as Black History Month Opens With Terror

Tuesday, February 1, 2022MDbomb 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.

Coppin State University received a bomb threat on the first day of Black History Month, February 1, 2022, alongside Morgan State University in Baltimore. Both campuses canceled in-person classes and kept students sheltered in place throughout the morning while Baltimore Police, campus police, and the FBI investigated. No explosive devices were found, and President Anthony Jenkins confirmed the campus was cleared by early afternoon.

Alerts: 2
Response: —
Killed: —
Injured: —

Institution

Coppin State University

Hbcu · MD

~2,500 studentsCoppin Blackboard Connect

Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence · 1 verified verbatim

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 ALERTEmailEarly morning, February 1, 2022 EST

Verified verbatimCoppin State University shelter-in-place alert text quoted verbatim by WMAR-2 News, February 1, 2022178 chars

If you are on campus, please, shelter in place, and wait for further instructions. Emergency officials are evaluating the campus and we will provide updates, as soon as possible.

Verbatim from the alert message posted on Coppin State University's website, quoted by WMAR-2 News; the comma placement ('please, shelter in place, and wait') and 'updates, as soon as possible' are preserved exactly as published

Coppin State and Morgan State in Baltimore were targeted simultaneously, suggesting coordinated timing against the city's two HBCUs

Part of a wave of at least 13 bomb threats against HBCUs on the first day of Black History Month

ALL CLEAREmailEarly afternoon, February 1, 2022 EST

Approximate reconstruction232 chars

The campus has been cleared by the Baltimore Police Department, FBI, and campus security following the bomb threat received earlier today. No explosive devices were found. Classes and university services will resume at 5 p.m. today.

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

Reconstructed from President Anthony Jenkins' statement reported by the Baltimore Sun

The 5 p.m. resumption time suggests the investigation and sweep took most of the day

A DSU vs. Coppin State basketball game was also rescheduled due to the threat

Context

Background

Coppin State University, a public HBCU in Baltimore, was one of at least 13 historically Black colleges and universities targeted with bomb threats on February 1, 2022 -- the first day of Black History Month. The threat arrived the same morning as one at nearby Morgan State University, meaning both of Baltimore's HBCUs were locked down simultaneously. This was part of the 2022 HBCU bomb threat wave which produced at least 57 bomb threats against HBCUs and other institutions and targeted dozens of Black colleges between January and February 2022. The FBI investigated the campaign as racially motivated hate crimes and identified six juveniles as persons of interest. No explosive devices were found at any campus nationwide.

Analysis

Key Findings

Both of Baltimore's HBCUs were targeted simultaneously, doubling the strain on local law enforcement resources

President Anthony Jenkins confirmed the campus was cleared by BPD, FBI, and campus security with no devices found

The DSU vs. Coppin State basketball game had to be rescheduled, showing the ripple effects of threats beyond academics

The threat came on the first day of Black History Month, consistent with the symbolic timing of the broader campaign

Outcome

Campus cleared by Baltimore Police Department, FBI, and campus security. No explosive devices found. Classes and university services resumed at 5 p.m. that day.

Provenance

Sources

News
Baltimore's Morgan State, Coppin State campuses close due to bomb threats -- Baltimore Sun
baltimoresun.com
News
Coppin State and Morgan State among HBCUs targeted with bomb threats -- WMAR
wmar2news.com
News
Morgan State, Coppin State campuses cleared after bomb threats -- CBS Baltimore
cbsnews.com
Student Paper
Bomb Threat: DSU vs Coppin State Basketball Game Rescheduled -- The Hornet Newspaper
thehornetonline.com

Alert Sequence

Background

Key Findings

Sources

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