Campus Alert Archive
Gateway

'The Whole Damn Place Is Going Down': Texted Threats of a Mass Shooting and Bombing at a New Haven Community College

CTthreat of violenceemergency 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.

Between February 4 and February 16, 2013, Amanda C. Bowden, 19, of East Haven, made numerous text message threats to commit a mass shooting and bombing at Gateway Community College in New Haven. She claimed to possess firearms and napalm bombs. A raid on her home found none of the weapons she described. She was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Gateway Community College
Community College · CT
~7,000 students
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 reconstruction283 chars
GATEWAY COMMUNITY COLLEGE SECURITY ALERT: The college is aware of a threat of violence made against the campus. Law enforcement is investigating. Enhanced security measures are in place. If you see anything suspicious, contact campus security immediately at 203-285-2020 or call 911.

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

The threats were made via text messages over a two-week period, first to a cooperating witness and then to an undercover law enforcement agent
Bowden discussed plans for a suicidal mass shooting and bombing, claiming she had constructed napalm-based bombs
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction284 chars
GATEWAY SECURITY UPDATE: The individual who made threats against the campus has been arrested and is in federal custody. A search of the suspect's residence found no weapons or explosive devices. There is no ongoing threat to the campus community. Normal security operations continue.

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

The raid on Bowden's East Haven home found none of the homemade napalm bombs or guns she had described in her threats
Context

Background

The Gateway Community College threat case was prosecuted at the federal level by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut. Amanda Bowden made threats via text message over approximately two weeks, initially to a cooperating witness and subsequently to an undercover law enforcement agent. The New Haven Independent reported that Bowden claimed to possess firearms and to have constructed at least two napalm-based bombs at her residence, but a raid found none of these items. Bowden was ultimately sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea to approximately 10 months of imprisonment (time already served) followed by three years of supervised release. A FOX 61 report noted she was sent to a psychiatric facility as part of her sentence. The case illustrates the resources required to investigate and prosecute campus threats even when no actual attack materializes.
Analysis

Key Findings

The threats were made over text messages to a cooperating witness and undercover agent, allowing law enforcement to build a federal case
Despite claiming to possess firearms and napalm bombs, no weapons were found during the raid on the suspect's home
The case was prosecuted federally as threats against a building used in interstate commerce, demonstrating the serious legal consequences of campus threats
The suspect was ultimately sent to a psychiatric facility, highlighting the mental health dimensions of campus threat cases
Outcome
No attack occurred. A search of Bowden's home found no firearms or bombs. She was convicted of threatening to commit an attack on a building used in interstate commerce and sentenced to approximately 10 months imprisonment plus three years supervised release.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Official
    East Haven Woman Charged With Threatening Violent Attack At Gateway Community College - DOJ
    justice.gov
  2. Official
    Woman Who Threatened Violent Attack At Gateway Community College Is Sentenced - DOJ
    justice.gov
  3. News
    'The Whole Damn Place Is Going Down' - New Haven Independent
    newhavenindependent.org
  4. News
    Woman Who Threatened College Shooting, Bombing Sent To Psychiatric Facility - FOX 61
    fox61.com
Tags
threat-of-violencecommunity-collegeconnecticutfederal-prosecutionbomb-threatmass-shooting-threatmental-healthHoax
Added April 2026Updated April 2026Via ingestion