The University of Florida Police Department and Gainesville Police Department cleared Library West on Wednesday morning after a threat was called into the combined communications center.  

UFPD’s Capt. Latrell Simmons said the caller made verbal threats in a hoax call, including that he was ready to die and was headed to the library. According to a press release, the man also claimed to have a rifle.  

The call came at 8:45 a.m., and officials declared it a hoax at 9:23 a.m. after clearing the Library West and the Marston Science Library.  

Simmons said everyone responded appropriately, with Alachua County Sheriff units on the way to assist. He said law enforcement has received hoax calls around the state and nation, helping determine that the threat didn’t exist.  

Simmons said law enforcement will work to track the origin of the call, and if the person is caught, they will be prosecuted.