RCC Grants Pass evacuating students following bomb threat

Grants Pass, Ore. — (Update 10/5 6:00pm) With emotions still raw after last Thursday’s mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, students and faculty at Rogue Community College campuses across the Rogue Valley Monday had quite the scare.

All three campuses were evacuated after a reported bomb threat.

Grants Pass department of public safety received the call around 10 Monday morning and immediately notified the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and RCC’s Redwood Campus.

Investigators with Oregon State Police, Josephine County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF agents have been on scene, searching every square inch of this campus to clear this threat make sure this threat no longer exist. Throughout the afternoon, investigators were seen going in and out of buildings.

A parent of an instructor who didn’t want to go on camera told NBC5 News backpacks and vehicles were searched as they exited the campus.

“The threat is not considered credible at this time but we are taking every single precaution,” said Grant Walker, RCC spokesman.

Many nearby residents and witnesses say they are shocked someone would make a threat, especially following last week’s mass shooting at UCC.

“It’s becoming ramped, why are kids doing this,” asked one man who didn’t want to be identified.

“Why do people have to do such a thing, you know playing off of the fears from what happened, not even a week ago. You’re using up resources that could be used for something else, something more important,” said David Cronenberg, who lives across the street and saw first responders arrive.

Classes were canceled for the rest of the day but should resume Tuesday..

(ORIGINAL 10/5 10:40am) Rogue Community College Grants Pass campus is evacuating students after receiving a bomb threat. All RCC campuses are also being evacuated as a precaution.

This is a screenshot of an email that was sent out to students. NBC5’s Kyle Aevermann/KOBI 5 is heading to Grants Pass right now and we will update you as soon as more details become available.

Southern Oregon University officials say they anticipate all SOU classes at the Higher Education Center that are scheduled for later today will take place. Officials also say there is no impact to operations on the main SOU campus in Ashland.

Grants Pass School District is not on lock down but a law enforcement officer has been sent to each school as an extra precaution. Three Rivers School District is no longer under a lock-in (meaning classes are resuming as normal but students are not able to go outside). School officials also said if parents feel the need to pull their child from class they may do so.

We are working to gather more details. Check back here for more details.