Campus Alert Archive
EWC

Archangel Michael Vows to Turn Wyoming to Dust; EWC Shuts Down While UW Stays Open

WYbomb threatemergency notificationmedium confidence

On September 22, 2016, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security received an anonymous email threat signed 'Archangel Michael' that claimed hundreds of pipe bombs and a thermobaric weapon were hidden across Wyoming institutions. Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington shut down for the day and canceled classes, making it one of the few Wyoming colleges to close entirely, while the University of Wyoming stayed open. Law enforcement agencies determined the threat was a hoax by that afternoon.

Alerts
2
Response
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Killed
—
Injured
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Institution
Eastern Wyoming College
Community College · WY
EWC Campus Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 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 ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction346 chars
EWC Campus Alert: Due to a statewide bomb threat received by the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security, Eastern Wyoming College is closing its campus and canceling all classes and activities for today, September 22, 2016. Please vacate campus immediately. Law enforcement is investigating. Updates will be provided as information becomes available.

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

Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington was one of only two Wyoming community colleges (along with Western Wyoming in Rock Springs) to fully close and cancel classes that day; the other four Wyoming community colleges and the University of Wyoming remained open.
The threat claimed 500 pounds of explosives were hidden in 40 Wyoming schools, which prompted EWC leadership to close out of an abundance of caution despite law enforcement later determining the threat was not credible.
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction207 chars
EWC Campus Alert: All clear. Law enforcement has determined the statewide bomb threat received this morning is not credible. Eastern Wyoming College campuses are safe. Normal operations will resume tomorrow.

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

Albany County Sheriff Dave O'Malley announced by approximately 1:15 p.m. MST on September 22, 2016 that the threat had been thoroughly vetted and was deemed less than credible, consistent with similar hoax emails sent to other states that week.
EWC's decision to fully close distinguished it from institutions like the University of Wyoming that monitored the situation but kept campuses open, illustrating how smaller institutions often apply more conservative protocols when threat specificity is uncertain.
Context

Background

On September 22, 2016, someone identifying as 'Archangel Michael' submitted an email through the Wyoming state website claiming 50 pipe bombs in Cheyenne government buildings, 600 pipe bombs across Wyoming cities, 50 explosive sets at Cheyenne Regional Airport, 500 pounds of explosives hidden in 40 Wyoming schools -- with ten schools allegedly having their fire sprinkler systems filled with napalm -- and a thermobaric MOAB weapon hidden in one of Wyoming's most densely populated areas. According to K2 Radio, the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security received the threat and notified law enforcement statewide. Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington and Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs chose to shut down entirely. Northwest College in Powell told employees to leave and resident students to return to their halls. The Cheyenne Regional Airport was evacuated. The University of Wyoming stayed open. By approximately 1:15 p.m. MST, Albany County Sheriff Dave O'Malley and other law enforcement partners determined the threat was a hoax with no credible danger. The same threat language had been sent to institutions in other states that week. EWC's full closure and class cancellations on September 22, 2016 represents the college's only known campus-wide emergency shutdown due to a bomb threat on record.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Wyoming Statewide Bomb Threat Provokes Confusion, Caution, Closings - K2 Radio
    k2radio.com
  2. News
    Wyoming Officials Issue Alert After Statewide Bomb Threat - ABC4
    abc4.com
  3. News
    Emailed bomb threat closes NWC, some facilities in state - Powell Tribune
    powelltribune.com
  4. Official
    Anonymous bomb threat across Wyoming - Casper Police Department Facebook
    m.facebook.com
  5. Official
    Eastern Wyoming College Campus Safety
    ewc.wy.edu
Tags
bomb-threatwyomingstatewide-threatcommunity-collegetorringtonarchangel-michaelhoaxcampus-closure
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion