Suspect identified, charged in Pardee Hospital bomb threat

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —

City officials say a suspect has been identified and charged following an investigation into a bomb threat made at Hendersonville’s UNC Health Pardee.

Hendersonville police responded to UNC Health Pardee on May 18, 2024, for a report of a bomb threat.

The hospital went into lockdown around 7:20 p.m. that evening, and people were asked to avoid the area as police investigated.

About one hour later, the police department posted on Facebook that the scene had been cleared and the hospital had returned to regular operations.

On July 3, a news release from the city of Hendersonville said James Vigil, of Greer, South Carolina, had been identified as the suspect in the case.

Vigil was charged with one felony count of making a false report concerning a destructive device (bomb threat).

The warrant was served on July 1 and is now pending adjudication in court, according to the city.

“It was determined that Vigil acted alone during this incident, and Pardee Hospital, staff, patients, and first responders were never in danger,” the city’s release said.