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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A bomb threat that was later determined to be a hoax placed St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in downtown Memphis on lockdown for over an hour on Tuesday night.
At around 6:10 p.m., officers responded to a reported bomb threat.
MPD officers and Memphis Safe Task Force officers searched the building and surrounding area and did not find an explosive device, authorities said.
“The threat was determined to be a hoax. The scene has been cleared,” said Memphis Police.
St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital said the following in a statement:
“Earlier today, law enforcement including the Memphis Police Department and members of a multi-agency task force responded immediately to a phone threat of an armed individual on the St. Jude campus. The police secured our campus, and conducted a thorough search of all buildings. No threat was found. The safety of our patients, families, and staff is always our first priority. We thank the members of law enforcement for their quick and professional response.”
Memphis Police, Highway State Patrol, and members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, including the National Guard and Homeland Security, were on the scene.
Police presence at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Photo by Derrick Holmes Police presence at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Photo by Derrick Holmes Police presence at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Photo by Derrick Holmes
St. Jude employees told NewsNation local affiliate WREG the campus was closed due to a threat and were told not to leave or enter the campus because the threat had not been substantiated.
Entrances and exits at the hospital were blocked off by authorities, and at around 7:30 p.m., agents and officers were seen leaving the hospital.
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