A man has been arrested in connection with an alleged threat that caused the University of New Orleans to enforce a mandatory, campus-wide evacuation Friday morning.
Joseph Russo, 41, was booked on one count of terrorizing and one count of lawful disruption of the operation of a school, the New Orleans Police Department said in a press release sent later in the afternoon.
Russo is reported to have called the university around 10:45 a.m. — shortly after the university's December graduation ceremony kicked off at Lakefront Arena — and allegedly threatened to burn down buildings on campus, police said.
Administration for UNO immediately called UNO Police regarding Russo's phone call and sent out the evacuation alert via email just before 11 a.m. Hynes UNO Charter School and Benjamin Franklin High School, which both sit on UNO's campus, were placed on lockdown during the evacuation.
"The UNO Police Department has been made aware of a potential threat to the University of New Orleans. A mandatory evacuation of all campuses is ordered," the alert said. "This is an actual emergency and not a test or a drill!!"
The New Orleans Police Department, the FBI, Louisiana State Police and Levee District Police assisted UNO Police at the scene. Together, they found Russo in the 2300 block of Saint Phillip Street and arrested him without incident.
The evacuation has been canceled, and the lockdowns have been lifted since Russo's arrest.
Anyone with additional information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact NOPD's Third District detectives at 504-658-6030.
WWNO Education reporter Aubri Juhasz contributed to this report.
