‘Deeply disturbing’ racist email sent to UCF students prompts fear

ORLANDO, Fla. – Students at the University of Central Florida say a racist email threatening to shoot minority students circulated on campus Thursday, prompting fear and leading some to leave classes early.

Several students told News 6 they either received the message directly or saw it forwarded by friends.

“It was pretty scary because I’m an international student,” one student said. “It’s my first semester here.”

The email referenced the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee in North Carolina last month and claimed the sender would seek revenge against minority students on UCF’s Orlando campus.

“I was so concerned, because something like this isn’t to be taken lightly,” one student said.

Others described calling their families or immediately leaving campus after reading the threat.

By Thursday afternoon, UCF posted on X.com, that the university was aware of the “deeply disturbing” email threatening violence on campuses, and similar messages reported at other schools across the country.

“We know this one was frightening and painful to receive -- especially for the Black/African American community that was directly targeted,” read the statement from UCF Police Chief Robin Griffin-Kitzerow and Adrienne Frame, vice president for student success and well-being.

The school said its Threat Management Team is investigating with help from the FBI and, at this time, does not consider the threat credible.

The UCF chapter of the NAACP released a statement calling the message “rooted in white supremacy, racial hatred, and a deliberate attempt to sow fear in Black communities.”

Students said the email still had a chilling effect, with fewer people than usual seen on campus.

“Look how many people are outside right now. It’s pretty empty considering this campus is so big,” one student said.

UCF officials are urging anyone who sees suspicious activity to call 911 immediately.

The FBI was also investigating threats to historically Black colleges and universities across the country Thursday, including at Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach.