Several buildings in Jackson cleared and reopened after bomb threats Thursday

Grant McLaughlin, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Updated ·2 min read
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For the second straight day, bomb threats disrupted legislative business in the Mississippi State Capitol Building on Thursday when bomb threats were also sent to the Mississippi Supreme Court and to the Hinds County Circuit and Chancery Court buildings.

Federal Bureau of Investigations and Mississippi Department of Public Safety Information Officers Marshay Lawson and Bailey Martin told the Clarion Ledger all four buildings, as well as other places throughout the state, were evacuated and locked down at approximately 9 a.m. Thursday.

Martin posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, at 11 a.m. Thursday that the lockdown was lifted at the capitol and the supreme court buildings.

Also at approximately 11 a.m. Thursday, Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones posted to X, "All is clear at both the Hinds County Circuit Court and the Chancery Court Buildings. Courthouses and all entities are back open for normal business activities."

A Capitol Police officer stares at the dome of the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, as they deal with a second consecutive day of bomb threats to the state house and to the Carroll Gartin Justice Building, which houses the state supreme and appellate courts.
A Capitol Police officer stares at the dome of the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, as they deal with a second consecutive day of bomb threats to the state house and to the Carroll Gartin Justice Building, which houses the state supreme and appellate courts.

Lawson told the Clarion Ledger the bomb threats are under investigation and that anyone with information regarding the incident should report it to local law enforcement.

"While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to gather, share and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention," Lawson said. "We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately."

Martin declined to disclose further details about the investigation.

Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch walks past the Mississippi State Capitol as the Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the statehouse and the Mississippi Supreme Court building in Jackson, Miss., Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2024. The police were dealing with the second consecutive day of threats.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch walks past the Mississippi State Capitol as the Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the statehouse and the Mississippi Supreme Court building in Jackson, Miss., Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2024. The police were dealing with the second consecutive day of threats.

Legislators' responses

After the lockdown was lifted, several legislators shared concerns about future bomb threats.

Sen. Walter Michel and Sen. Chuck Younger, who represents parts of Jackson, Madison and Lowndes counties, respectively, said most senators feel safe knowing both incidents have been hoaxes, but more threats will only disrupt and delay the legislative process in the future.

"It's unfortunate that bomb threats are occurring but that's just the world we live in," Michel said. "If it starts happening a lot on deadline days when we are trying to get bills done, that could be a very big problem."

Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the Mississippi State Capitol and the Mississippi Supreme Court building, background,, Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2024, in Jackson, Miss.
Capitol Police respond to a bomb threat at the Mississippi State Capitol and the Mississippi Supreme Court building, background,, Thursday morning, Jan. 4, 2024, in Jackson, Miss.

Sen. David Blount said he is confident MDPS and Capitol Police will find who made the threats and hopeully prevent it from happening in the future.

"We've got a lot of confidence in MDPS and law enforcement here," he said. "This is disruptive, but we can get back to normal."

On Wednesday, the Mississippi Capitol was one of six state capitol buildings that had bomb threats emailed to the state capitols forcing evacuations.

The FBI has said Wednesday’s bomb threats were hoaxes.

It was unclear if any other state capitols or buildings received bomb threats on Thursday.

— Reporter Lici Beveridge contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS State Capitol building under second bomb threat in two days