On the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 16, Rockhurst University received a bomb threat, prompting an immediate campus-wide evacuation. The Kansas City Police Department (KCPD) and the Rockhurst Department of Safety and Security responded swiftly to ensure the protection of students, faculty and staff. The threat was ultimately deemed unfounded.

The caller refused to provide details about the location of the devices but demanded a ransom in cryptocurrency be delivered to a specified address. He threatened to remotely detonate the bombs from his basement if his demands were not met.

By 6:41 p.m., a Rock Alert had been issued, notifying students, faculty and staff to evacuate all buildings and gather at the baseball field.

Junior women’s soccer player Sydney Schmidt was in the middle of practice when the evacuation order was issued.

“We were practicing when a security officer came onto the field and told us we needed to stop immediately and evacuate to the baseball field,” said Schmidt. “My phone was in the locker room, so I had no idea what was happening at first.”

While students gathered at the baseball field, KCPD arrived on campus with Tactical, Traffic, Patrol, K-9/Bomb and Arson units. The teams worked closely with the Department of Safety and Security to perform a coordinated search of the campus grounds.

“I eventually found out it was a bomb threat,” said Schmidt. “I was nervous, but seeing KCPD and our security teams working together made me feel safer.”

As the sun began to set, a second Rock Alert was issued at 7:58 p.m., instructing on-campus students to relocate to Saint Francis Xavier (SFX) Catholic Church on East 52nd Street, directly across Troost Avenue from the university. The church provided warmth and shelter for evacuated students.

“A large space for gathering that was not close to any buildings was needed. As the temperature dropped, the church was a natural location for a warm space,” said Katherine Frohoff, associate vice president of university marketing and communications. “We are grateful to SFX for hosting our students, faculty and staff.” 

Off-campus students were advised to avoid the university and wait out the situation from a safe distance. Many offered support to friends displaced by the evacuation. Junior Lauren Good, who lives in an off-campus house, was one of the many students who opened her home to friends.

“We had friends who lived on campus staying with us that night. It was comforting to have company as we tried to figure out what was going on,” said Good. “It was definitely a weird situation, but we were happy to help.”

At 12:25 a.m., KCPD issued the all-clear and a Rock Alert was sent, allowing students to return to their on-campus housing and other university buildings as the threat was unfounded.

“Walking back to campus was surreal,” said sophomore Caitlyn Smith. “We were all just exhausted and glad it was over. I grabbed my phone and other stuff from the locker room and went straight to bed.”

Classes resumed the following day, with faculty accommodating students who may not have had access to their study materials during the evacuation. An email was also sent encouraging students to take advantage of on-campus support services like the Counseling Center, Campus Ministry, and Student Success coaches.

“Undoubtedly, a host of staff and faculty members are interested in offering companionship to you during any difficult time,” said Patterson.

Rockhurst officials have not received any updates on the ongoing investigation into the source of the bomb threat, but Frohoff acknowledged that similar incidents have been reported at schools nationwide.

“We have not received any updates yet other than the information that bomb threats to educational institutions, including K-12, have been happening more frequently throughout the country,” said Frohoff.

As students returned to their daily routines, the incident served as a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and the strength of the Rockhurst community in the face of uncertainty. The swift response of university officials and law enforcement ensured that everyone remained safe throughout the ordeal.