Authorities: Juvenile suspected of bomb threat that forced evacuation of NC Zoo

The NC Zoo evacuated Monday morning after a bomb threat. About 1,400 people were forced to cut their visit short. The zoo, usually open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, remained closed for the rest of the day.

Nothing suspicious was found in a sweep of the grounds, authorities said, and a juvenile was believed to have made the threat. Investigators traced the threat, which they said was delivered electronically, to the alleged sender and filed a juvenile petition against that person.

Someone from the zoo called the Randolph County Sheriff's Office just before 11 a.m. to report having received the threat.

There were students from Guilford County Schools at the zoo at the time of the threat, and the school system issued this statement:

"Guilford County Schools is grateful for the swift action taken by law enforcement in Randolph County at the North Carolina Zoo. Students from Welborn Academy and Northwest Middle have returned safely to their respective campuses and will continue the school day as normal."

Anyone with additional information about the threat is asked to contact the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations at 336-318-6658 or Randolph County Crime Stoppers tip line at 336-672-7463.