Arizona Man Arrested for Alleged Threat to Army-Navy Game Mass Casualty Event

Andrew Buchanan was arrested on July 31 in Tucson, Arizona where authorities said he was homeless.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Andrew Buchanan, 38, who is accused of threatening a “mass casualty event” at a college football game last year, is now in federal custody in Arizona. He is awaiting extradition to Rhode Island, according to federal authorities.

Buchanan allegedly called in the threats on his cell phone prior to the Army-Navy game on December 8 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The game was attended by more than 65,000 fans and proceeded without any incident after the authorities tracked the call.

The FBI received a tip revealing Buchanan had allegedly informed a family member about his plans to cause a mass casualty event, indicating they would see him on the news. This alarming tip was part of a criminal complaint against Buchanan.

A few days after the game, Buchanan is also accused of threatening to shoot up the campus of Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island. This threat was reported by a student admissions employee.

Prosecutors have charged Buchanan with one felony count of interstate threatening communications, which entails a maximum penalty of five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.

Buchanan, previously a resident of Burrillville, Rhode Island, was arrested in Tucson. After his arrest, he waived a subsequent federal court hearing in Tucson. Consequently, a judge ordered his return to Rhode Island to face charges in U.S. District Court in Providence.

Federal authorities confirmed that the U.S. Marshals Service will manage Buchanan’s extradition, but no specific timetable has been set for the transfer.

Attempts to contact the Marshals Service and the public defender representing Buchanan for comments were unsuccessful on Tuesday.