Borgata Hotel Incident Leads to Large Atlantic City Police Presence, Partial Evacuation

Posted on: July 18, 2024, 07:36h. 

Last updated on: July 18, 2024, 07:44h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More

Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Numerous local police officers rushed to Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa late Thursday afternoon after a guest claimed to have a bomb and firearms.

The incident began at 3:55 p.m., when the Atlantic City Police Department (ACPD) got a phone call from a man who said he was in the Borgata. He said he was armed with firearms and an explosive device.

Social media posts further claimed that a person had barricaded himself in a hotel bathroom. He was threatening to shoot up the property, according to the online rumors.

But the rumors couldn’t be confirmed as of 7 p.m. Thursday, according to BreakingAC, a local news site.

Acting quickly, ACPD officers and Borgata security guards searched the large property. Portions of the complex were evacuated.

No Arrests

No suspect had been apprehended as of late in the afternoon. Neither a firearm nor explosive device were located.

Later in the day, police were still trying to confirm if the threat was valid.

But BreakingAC did report the Atlantic City Bomb Squad responded to the hotel-casino.

More than a dozen police vehicles also were seen outside of the hotel. TV news helicopters were flying over the neighborhood.

Officials remain tight-lipped on what was transpiring.

It appeared that many entrances to the complex were blocked, out of a concern about safety, according to initial news reports.

Cops rushed inside the MGM Resorts International-operated hotel, too. Traffic was being rerouted to nearby roads.

To calm the fears of those in the building, and nearby, the ACPD issued a late-afternoon statement.

There is NO active shooter,” ACPD Capt. Kevin Fair said in the online message to the public.

Partial Evacuation

“Out of an abundance of caution, portions of the building were briefly evacuated,” the ACPD statement also revealed.

Patrons have … since been allowed back in the building and law enforcement has cleared the scene.”

ACPD officers expect to issue a further update later on Thursday night.

Businesses inside the complex remained open, according to Philadelphia TV station WPVI.

The hotel has 2,798 rooms. It opened on July 2, 2003. Developed through a partnership with Boyd Gaming, MGM bought out Boyd’s 50% stake in the casino. The property is owned by Vici Properties.

Last year, it was announced Borgata’s Water Club was getting renovated. The hotel tower’s more than 700 guest rooms, and suites, were being refreshed.

Borgata is the longtime brick-and-mortar casino leader in Atlantic City.