Teen Arrested In WIU Bomb Threat
UPDATED: 11/16/10 - 3:12 p.m.
PEORIA, Ill. (CBS) - An 18-year-old Chicago man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a bomb threat made against Western Illinois University in October.
Cameron McKoy, 18, was arrested earlier Tuesday in Chicago by the FBI and Western Illinois University police, according to a release from the FBI.
McKoy is expected to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Peoria later Tuesday, at which time more information regarding the charge will be available, the release said.
McKoy, who was suspended from school late last month, is scheduled to appear before a judge in federal court in Peoria later Tuesday. He is accused of making a threat on Oct. 25 to Tanner Hall, his former residence hall, WIU spokeswoman Darcie Shinberger said.
McKoy was put on suspension shortly after the first threat, when he was initially arrested for allegedly making a threat to that residence hall.
The threats then continued, however. Anonymous threats to various residence halls, including more to Tanner, were made on Nov. 4, 5 and 9. On Nov. 10 and 11, threatening notes were found in another student residence, Higgins Hall, Shinberger said.
"The police and the FBI are still investigating all of the threats including the threats made at Higgins Hall with the notes," she said.
WIUM Radio in Macomb reports that the sixth bomb threat was found on a handwritten note in the Higgins Hall dormitory late Thursday. Police swept the building, and students were allowed back in shortly after midnight.
Shinberger knew of "no reason, no motivation'' behind McKoy's alleged threats. He has been banned from campus and "could face possible expulsion," Shinberger said.
The school continues to offer a $10,000 reward for information related to the other threats, she said.
"We are so ready to put these instances to bed and be able to continue with a normal campus life," said Shinberger.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
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