Dallas Baptist University Threats and Evacuation

Summary

On January 22, 2026, Dallas Baptist University canceled classes and evacuated its campus after receiving multiple threats. University officials said the decision was made out of an abundance of caution. The threats were not fully described publicly, and officials emphasized that there was no confirmed indication of immediate danger. Law enforcement, including the Dallas Police Department and the FBI, responded quickly, coordinated with university leadership, and implemented security measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and staff.

The evacuation and class cancellations occurred on the same day a scheduled event was planned featuring U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner, who had previously served as a trustee of the university and as an associate pastor in Plano. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson was also scheduled to speak. The event was intended as a summit on how faith-based organizations could support economically distressed communities through Opportunity Zone investments. University officials canceled the event, along with other campus activities, while the threats were assessed. Authorities did not confirm that the threats were specifically connected to the Turner event, though they occurred on the same day, and a possible connection was not ruled out.

Throughout the day, the university communicated with students, faculty, and staff, instructing them to avoid the campus until law enforcement completed their assessment. After a thorough investigation and security review, authorities cleared the campus later that afternoon. Officials announced that there was no ongoing or active threat, and classes were scheduled to resume the following day. University leadership stated that all measures were taken to ensure the safety of the campus community and that normal operations would continue.