ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. – A 22-year-old senior at Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) was arrested Nov. 6 and charged with seven counts of making bomb threats on campus.
Police believe that the suspect, Douglas Marcus Cox, is the culprit responsible for the threats. Cox was arrested at approximately 1:30 p.m. He has been suspended indefinitely from the university.
ECSU Police Chief Samuel Beamon said the cell phone providers and phone company aided campus police in finding Cox. He added that the State Bureau of Investigation and the Elizabeth City Police Department also assisted; however, campus police conducted the main investigation.
Beamon did not comment on the motive or whether Cox had a previous criminal record.
One set of bomb threats was placed against a campus building that was hosting a polling place for the town’s city council election. Other buildings facing threats were the K.E. White Center, the Mickey L. Burnim Fine Arts Complex and the Jimmy R. Jenkins Science Center. Each building was evacuated promptly, said ECSU spokeswoman Kesha Williams. Students and staff were told to stay where they were until it was safe. No weapons or explosives were found in the buildings.
Cox is being held on a $21,000 secured bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Nov. 8.
