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A former Vassar College student, Nigel Trenh, was arrested on December 8 in Los Angeles for allegedly spreading false information about a bomb and active shooter on the college campus. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Trenh, 22, used the social media platform Fizz to post a hoax on August 29, claiming there was a bomb in the third-floor restroom of Davison House and an active shooter on campus. This post led to the evacuation of the dormitory and a response from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, "As alleged, Nigel Trenh used social media to spread false information about a bomb and active shooter on a college campus, forcing an evacuation of students, family members, and college staff on their move-in day." The hoax was part of a broader pattern of threatening communications from Trenh to the college, including emails and messages referencing on-campus violence.
Trenh, who had been on leave from Vassar College, faces charges of maliciously conveying false information involving an explosive, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and spreading a hoax involving explosives and firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in White Plains federal court on December 18.
FBI Assistant Director Christopher G. Raia emphasized the seriousness of the incident, stating, "Trenh's alleged hoax unnecessarily incited fear on one of our local campuses and diverted law enforcement resources from legitimate calls." The FBI is committed to addressing such threats to ensure campus safety.
More details on the arrest and charges are available from the U.S. Attorney's Office.