Texas A&M Bomb Threat Suspect Arrested

Bryan, TX – Texas A&M University police have reportedly arrested a man they said is responsible for emailing a bomb threat to the school earlier this month.

According to KBTX News, Dereon Kelly, 22, sent an email to the Texas A&M Computing Information Services (CIS) Department on Friday, October 19. The threat caused officials to evacuate the university for several hours while crews scoured the campus for an explosive device.

Kelly, a resident of Bryan, Texas, was charged with making a terroristic threat — a third degree felony — on Monday but has been in the Brazos County jail since October 19 on warrants out of Dallas County including one for fraud.

KTRK-TV Houston notes Kelly was identified through a joint investigation involving the FBI and several other law enforcement agencies. They were able to link Kelly’s cell phone to the threat.

If convicted, Kelly faces up to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

A day before the A&M threat, another bomb threat forced the evacuation of at least three buildings on Texas State University’s campus in San Marcos.

Brittany Nichole Henderson, 19, also of Bryan, Texas, was arrested without bond charged with making a terrorist threat and misdemeanor of making a false alarm.

Texas A&M police Lieutenant Allan Baron said that Henderson remains a person of interest in the A&M bomb threat case as well. Sources tell KBTX Kelly and Henderson are either currently in a relationship or used to be in one.

Authorities are asking anyone with any additional information about the bomb threat to call Texas A&M University police at 979-845-2345.