An alarming text message, campus-wide confusion, hours of gridlocked campus roads, bomb squads scouring buildings, questions left unanswered — it wasn’t even 48 hours before the man responsible for a threat that rocked the University was arrested.
William Bouvay Jr., a 42-year-old Baton Rouge resident unaffiliated with the University, was arrested late Tuesday night for reporting the false bomb threat.
The East Baton Rouge Parish 911 Call Center received the threat at 10:32 a.m., with a chilling message on the other end, according to an arrest affidavit.
“Yes, I planted three bombs at LSU’s school campus,” the then-unidentified man said. “My colleagues planted three bombs at LSU to go off in two hours if my—” he trailed off. “This is not a joke. I’m gonna go there and—” The call disconnected.
Exactly an hour later, students, faculty and staff received an emergency text message ordering a campus evacuation because a bomb was reported on campus.
By Tuesday evening, police had tracked the call to a deactivated phone that could only dial emergency numbers. Officers were able to determine the coordinates of where the call took place, narrowing it down to either 8222 or 8224 Skysail Ave.
After searching residents’ phones and once questioning the wrong man, police brought Bouvay, of 8224 Skysail Ave., to the LSU Police Department, where he admitted placing the call. He is now in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Though little light has been shed on Bouvay’s motive for calling in a “prank” bomb threat to the University on Monday, his criminal past and the events leading to his arrest were clearer after a news conference from local, state and federal officials Wednesday afternoon.
Much of the conference was spent lauding the collective effort of LSU Police and police forces around Baton Rouge and the state.
“Apprehension of this individual in such a short period of time is almost unprecedented,” said Baton Rouge Chief of Police Dewayne White.
Praise also flowed from Interim System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins.
Police refused to reveal Bouvay’s motive, citing ongoing investigations that could be compromised by divulging information.
It is not yet known the length of time Bouvay will spend in jail for the false bomb threat, but it’s possible he could face up to 20 years on state charges alone. Additional charges like terrorism could add 15 years.
Authorities said his bail will likely be set at $1 million.
East Baton Rouge Sheriff Sid Gautreaux mentioned Bouvay could face charges for an unrelated, off-campus incident on Sept. 14, but did not elaborate on the circumstances.
LSUPD spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde said threats are usually called in to university administrators directly, but this situation was unique because the call first went to a 911 center.
In this case, the call center’s ability to gather information and inform the University was quick, and administrators took the time necessary to make the decision to evacuate campus, Lalonde said.
Officials repeatedly recognized what they deemed a successful evacuation that ensued once campus was notified of the bomb threat. They claimed campus was clear and free of traffic an hour and 20 minutes after the emergency text message was sent.
However, students attempting to leave campus faced a halted traffic gridlock as they fled. Many took to social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to express anguish with the slow, and at times stagnant, traffic. Some students gave up on leaving campus or walked to their destinations after spending more than an hour in traffic with little to no progress made.
William Bouvay Jr., 42, of 8224 Skysail Ave., was arrested Wednesday morning, Sept. 19 in relation to the bomb threat reported Monday, Sept. 17.
