Alamogordo NM
5-03-2026 6:43pm

Alamogordo Zoo Evacuated After Bomb Threat as Community Endures Year-Long Surge in Hoax Calls

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (May 3, 2026) — The Alamogordo Zoo was safely evacuated Sunday afternoon following a bomb threat received alongside similar calls to multiple zoos nationwide. Guests and staff cooperated fully, all animals remained secure, and no explosives were found after a thorough sweep. The zoo plans to reopen Monday, May 4, at 9:00 a.m.

This incident marks the latest chapter in a troubling wave of bomb threats that has plagued Alamogordo and surrounding areas for more than a year, taxing local law enforcement, Holloman Air Force Base EOD teams, K-9 units, and emergency responders.

A Year of Enhanced Bomb Threats in Alamogordo

Since mid-2024, the community has seen repeated incidents at schools, businesses, retail centers, senior facilities, and now a zoo. Many have resulted in full evacuations and multi-agency responses, though none have involved actual devices. Key cases include:

• August 15, 2024: Hoax bomb threat at Southwest Heritage Bank.

• March 4, 2025: Bomb scare at Ruidoso High School (lockdown and evacuation).

• Early October 2025: Threat at Alamogordo High School — a juvenile suspect was arrested and referred to juvenile probation.

• October 17, 2025: Bomb threat at Betty Dare Good Samaritan Society (senior care facility at 3101 N. Florida Ave.), prompting resident evacuation.

• October 18, 2025: Simultaneous threats led to evacuation of both Alamogordo Walmart locations.

• March 5, 2026: Threat at Full House North Child Development Center on North Florida Avenue — children and staff safely relocated.

• April 28, 2026: White Sands Mall evacuated after a phoned-in threat around 10:15 a.m.

• May 3, 2026: Alamogordo Zoo (today’s incident).

Recent Arrests Show Aggressive Investigation

Alamogordo Police Department detectives have pursued these cases vigorously, often using phone records, location data, and collaboration with other agencies

Several arrests have been made:

• Ravein Townsend, 31, of Alamogordo (a Betty Dare employee), was arrested October 23, 2025, and charged with one count of Unlawful Bomb Scare (4th-degree felony) in connection with the October 17 Betty Dare threat. She was booked into the Otero County Detention Center.

• Severus Salas, 50, of Ruidoso (an American Medical Response employee at the time), was arrested January 3, 2026, for the October 18 Walmart threats. He faces two counts of Making a Bomb Scare (4th-degree felonies). Investigators linked him through a blocked-number call and cell-phone tracking while he was on duty.

• Margaret J. Cojo, 42 (now 43), of Mescalero, was charged in April 2026 with Making a Bomb Threat (4th-degree felony) for the 2024 Southwest Heritage Bank incident. She had previously faced charges related to the March 2025 Ruidoso High School threat.

These arrests underscore that authorities treat every threat seriously and use modern investigative tools to identify perpetrators, even when calls are made from blocked numbers.

National Context and Local Impact

Sunday’s zoo threat fits a broader pattern of apparent swatting-style calls hitting U.S. zoos in recent days (Louisville, Toledo, Phoenix, Columbus, and others). Locally, however, the frequency has been unusually high, disrupting daily life, schools, retail, senior care, childcare, and now family recreation.

Alamogordo Police, Otero County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, and Holloman AFB personnel have responded professionally each time, minimizing risk while clearing scenes quickly.

2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org / KALHRadio.org will continue covering these developments closely. The community’s patience and cooperation during evacuations have been commendable, but repeated hoaxes drain resources that could be used elsewhere.

Anyone with information about these or any bomb threats is urged to contact the Alamogordo Police Department immediately. These incidents are felonies under New Mexico law and carry serious consequences. Its time these stop.

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