New Orleans police have identified the man arrested for threatening to burn down buildings at the University of New Orleans. Joseph Russo, 40, was arrested on one count each of terrorizing and unlawful disruption of the operation of a school. Around 10:45 p.m., Russo reportedly called the school, threatening to burn down buildings on campus. See Shay’s full report here:The University of New Orleans sent a campus-wide alert on Friday asking people to evacuate the campus. Hynes UNO Charter and Ben Franklin High School were also placed on lockdown. The evacuation has been canceled, and the lockdowns have since been lifted. Russo was located in the 2300 block of Saint Philip Street and was arrested without incident. According to UNO, Russo was a student at the university. The following statement was issued by UNO confirmed that the campus has reopened and the threat has been cleared:”Campus officials were notified of a credible threat on Friday, December 12, 2025 at approximately 10:00 am and immediately initiated the appropriate protocols. The threat has been cleared and campus has been reopened.”A mandatory evacuation of the campus was ordered around 10 a.m., and the alert said “This is an actual emergency and not a drill.”
New Orleans police have identified the man arrested for threatening to burn down buildings at the University of New Orleans.
Joseph Russo, 40, was arrested on one count each of terrorizing and unlawful disruption of the operation of a school.
Around 10:45 p.m., Russo reportedly called the school, threatening to burn down buildings on campus.
See Shay’s full report here:
The University of New Orleans sent a campus-wide alert on Friday asking people to evacuate the campus.
Hynes UNO Charter and Ben Franklin High School were also placed on lockdown.
The evacuation has been canceled, and the lockdowns have since been lifted.
Russo was located in the 2300 block of Saint Philip Street and was arrested without incident.
According to UNO, Russo was a student at the university.
The following statement was issued by UNO confirmed that the campus has reopened and the threat has been cleared:
“Campus officials were notified of a credible threat on Friday, December 12, 2025 at approximately 10:00 am and immediately initiated the appropriate protocols. The threat has been cleared and campus has been reopened.”
A mandatory evacuation of the campus was ordered around 10 a.m., and the alert said “This is an actual emergency and not a drill.”