Ex-Duke Health employee charged with threats of mass violence against university
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Nathaniel Jerrell was arrested this weekend after a warrant issued over five months ago.
- Court records say Jerrell allegedly threatened coworkers in October in online posts.
- Jerrell faces a felony of communicating threat of mass violence on educational property.
A former Duke Health employee was arrested this weekend for allegedly making threats of mass violence against Duke University.
Duke University police issued a warrant for 31-year-old Nathaniel Jerrell’s arrest more than five months ago after he threatened his former coworkers and workplace in online posts in October with “bringing a gun or planting a bomb,” according to court documents.
Raleigh police arrested Jerrell on Glenwood Avenue on Saturday night, according to a Wake County inmate database. The Durham resident now faces a felony charge of communicating a threat of mass violence on educational property and is being held in jail on $5,000 bail.
In a statement Monday, Duke Health officials confirmed Jerrell worked as an appointment coordinator from April 2022 until August 2025 — just a few months before police allege he threatened his former workplace.
Duke Health officials did not comment on whether Jerrell resigned or was fired.
“The individual is no longer employed by Duke Health,” they wrote. “We are cooperating with law enforcement and continue to monitor the situation closely. As this is an active legal matter, we are unable to comment further.”
Jerrell made his first appearance in court Monday morning. His next appearance is set for May 7.
