Munhall man charged after texted bomb threat targets UPMC hospitals
Pittsburgh, PA — A 43-year-old Munhall man is in custody after authorities say he sent a bomb threat via text message to 9-1-1, triggering a swift law enforcement response and criminal charges tied to threats against multiple UPMC hospitals in Allegheny County.
On August 31, a disturbing text was received by Allegheny County Emergency Services claiming bombs were placed at UPMC medical facilities throughout the region. Each hospital named in the threat was alerted, and county police were brought in to lead the investigation.
Detectives traced the message back to a specific phone number and ultimately identified Justin Reihl as the person behind the threats. Investigators did not say how many hospitals were targeted or if any specific facility was evacuated, but confirmed there were no explosives found.
After consulting with the district attorney’s office, Reihl was charged with terroristic threats, harassment, and threat to use weapons of mass destruction. He was arrested Friday and transported to Allegheny County Jail pending his preliminary arraignment.
Officials have not disclosed a motive, and the investigation remains active.
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Key Points
- Justin Reihl, 43, of Munhall, is charged after a text to 9-1-1 threatened UPMC hospitals with bombs
- No explosives were found and Reihl was taken into custody Friday following a county police investigation
- He faces multiple charges including threat to use weapons of mass destruction
