HCC Bomb Threat: Virginia Woman Charged With 4 Crimes

BEL AIR, MD — A Virginia woman is being held without bail in connection with the threat that shut down Harford Community College Friday, officials said. She has been charged with threatening mass violence and other offenses.

Amara Mallory Leonard, 22, of Fairfax, Virginia, turned herself in to authorities Saturday, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. Officials allege she hacked into her ex's account and sent an email late Thursday night stating someone was planning to plant pipe bombs on the Harford Community College campus. When a staff member discovered the email Friday morning around 9 a.m., officers were called.

As deputies, K-9 officers and partner agencies searched the campus on Thomas Run Road, Harford Community College was evacuated.

When officers contacted the person of interest whose email address was attached to the threat, they said they discovered his account had been hacked by someone with whom he had previously been in a relationship who sent the threat.

Related: HCC Closes Following Threat, Investigation Ongoing

Leonard is charged with threat of mass violence, threat of arson, false statement about a destructive device and disturbing school operations.

Making a false statement about the location and detonation of a destructive device is a felony. The other charges are misdemeanors.

Anyone with information about the Harford Community College threat may call the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 410-879-7929.