Macomb, Ill - Three threatening notes were found Thursday morning on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb.
The first one was found about 7:30 in a lab inside Horrabin Hall.
That classroom building, located across from the Malpass Library, also contains a daycare and offices.
The note read, "There will be a terrible tragedy today", and listed March 26th, 2009 as the date.
A second note was found on the other side of the building inside a professor's office.
It read, "People will perish on campus"..
Both notes were handwritten.
The third threat, university officials say is unrelated to the other two.
It was found shortly before eleven this morning written on the wall of a restroom stall in Stipes Hall.
It said a bomb would go off at 10:00 o'clock Thursday morning.
The Secretary of State's bomb sniffing dog was brought to campus early in the afternoon.
WIU activated its emergency alert system 30 to 45 minutes after the first note was reported, and posted the alert on its campus website. Campus security and officers from city, county and state law enforcement agencies were stationed at every campus building. All staff and students were expected to report for regular classes and other duties or activities.
"We can't allow these types of interruptions to shut the campus down. We can't allow these individuals to control our lives," says WIU President Al Goldfarb.
Parents of children enrolled in the daycare inside Horrabin Hall were notified and allowed to pick up their children if they felt uneasy about the situation.
"We encourage others on campus, if they know, or have some idea who's responsible, let us know. They have to be getting sick of this as well," says Garry Johnson, WIU's VP of Student Services.
President Al Goldfarb reminds those responsible, the University does not take this lightly, and if the person or persons are found, the University will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.
The two handwritten notes found in Horrabin Hall have been sent to the crime lab in Springfield for analysis.
This is Western's third threat in a year.
The last one was in December.
The first threat actually came sometime in the overnight hours of March 25th and March 26th of 2008, making this the one year anniversary of that threat.
Officials at Western tell us its impossible to see if someone tried to commemorate last years threat, and it's most likely a coincidence.
On the plus side of things though, Western's Alert System seemed to work flawlessly.
We're told there were no hiccups in the system.
We did hear from one parent who told us her son did not receive a text alert, but we found out students, faculty, and staff have to enter a number to get a text message.
Phone messages and e-mails are automatic.
We also learned all students, faculty, and staff have to review their emergency information at the beginning of every semester.
Western set up a reward for information that leads to an arrest.
It's called the Stop the threat fund.
It was started after the threat that came on this date, one year ago.
Parents, alumni and students contributed a thousand dollars to the fund.
Thursday President Al Goldfarb contributed 500 dollars of his own money to the fund.
"You can't stop people from doing this. All you can do is hope and try to find people to help you. That's the reason we established the fund to make people aware there are rewards available," says Goldfarb.
Individuals with information about the anonymous threat should contact the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS) at (309) 298-1949 or Western's Stop the Threat Fund.
KHQA checked with the state's attorney in McDonough County.
James Hoyle would be in charge of prosecuting anyone accused of making these threats.
He told us his office takes these incidents seriously.
Depending on the nature of the threat, suspects could face charges ranging from disorderly conduct to making a terrorist threat.
Punishments could range from probation to 30 years in prison.
Hoyle also says he would ask for restitution from the guilty party, to pay for the added security because of the threats.
The following information was received from Western Illinois University - updated information below:
MACOMB, IL -- A threatening note was found in Horrabin Hall at 7:30 a.m. today (March 26) on the Western Illinois University-Macomb campus, according to University officials. The note did not specify the nature of the threat.
An investigation is ongoing and police presence on campus has been heightened with support from city, county and state law enforcement. Western remains open and classes are being held as usual. In addition to the extra law enforcement in cars and walking through campus buildings, residence halls and dining areas have been secured.
The campus is asked to take notice of any suspicious behavior and report it to the Office of Public Safety immediately by calling 9-1-1 from any campus phone or 298-1949. There are also 51 emergency callboxes located throughout campus.
"We are investigating this incident, and we will prosecute the individual(s) responsible to the fullest extent of the law," said WIU President Goldfarb.
If students wish to speak to a mental health counselor for help in coping with the stress of this incident, they may call the University Counseling Center at (309) 298-2453.
Individuals with information about the anonymous threat should contact the WIU Office of Public Safety (OPS) at (309) 298-1949 or Western's Stop the Threat Fund, which includes $1,000 and an additional $500 donated by President and Mrs. Goldfarb. The fund was established in response to two previous unfounded threats.
A warning alert has been issued using Western's Emergency Alert System.
More information from WIU:
MACOMB, IL - An unrelated threat was discovered at approximately 10:50 a.m. today (March 26) written on the wall of a restroom stall in Stipes Hall.
According to the Office of Public Safety, the threat indicated an incident would occur at 10 a.m. today in Stipes Hall.
"We are concerned about copycat activities," said OPS Director Bob Fitzgerald. "Even if someone thinks that leaving a message is a joke or prank, the University will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
The two handwritten notes discovered in Horrabin Hall this morning at 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. have been sent to the crime lab in Springfield for analysis.
The Western Illinois University-Macomb campus remains open and classes are being held as scheduled.
An investigation is ongoing and police presence on campus has been heightened with support from city, county and state law enforcement. In addition to the extra law enforcement in cars and walking through campus buildings, residence halls and dining areas have been secured.
The campus is asked to take notice of any suspicious behavior and report it to the Office of Public Safety immediately by calling 9-1-1 from any campus phone or 298-1949. There are also 51 emergency callboxes located throughout campus.
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