Man charged with issuing bomb threat to Concordia University

A Chicago man is being held in Lake County jail after threatening to "blow up" Concordia University in River Forest, authorities said Thursday.

James R. Childress, 29, of the 1700 block of 67th Street, reportedly contacted an acquaintance through social media Aug. 25 and said he was going to blow up the university with a homemade bomb, Lake County Sheriff's Det. Christopher Covelli said.

The victim is a resident of Lake County, who contacted the Lake County Sheriff's Office because the threats came while she was at home, Covelli said. Covelli said the woman was not an employee of the university, but that Childress chose her to rant to.

Lake County Sheriff's officials immediately contacted Concordia University and River Forest Police to make them aware of the situation, Covelli said.

Sheriff's detectives located Childress on Aug. 26 at his Chicago residence, where he admitted sending the threatening messages, Covelli said. Childress indicated to police he was upset with the university because his application to become a student was denied, Covelli said.

Childress was charged with disorderly conduct - making a bomb threat, and electronic harassment.

He was ordered held in Lake County jail on $150,000 bail, with a pending court date of Sept. 3.

Covelli said the FBI assisted in the investigation, and additional charges are possible.