Arrest Made in Yale Hoax Shooting Report

Caller told police someone was headed to Yale campus to "shoot people."

New Haven police have arrested a man in connection with the phoned-in threat that forced a lockdown at Yale University in November 2013.

On November 25, an anonymous caller reported his roommate was headed to the Yale campus to shoot people. Police tracked the call to a phone booth in the 300 block of Columbus Avenue. The call prompted a massive police presence and the university was locked down for hours.

On Wednesday, New Haven Police said they have arrested Jeffrey Jones, 50, of Westbrook. He is being held on $250,000 bond.

His mother said Jeffrey Jones is innocent.

“My son is being accused of something that isn’t true,” Jacqueline Sperry, Jeffrey Jones’ mother, said.
“They don’t have anyone, but because he has a record, they are charging him.”

He is a quiet man who is a loner and doesn’t get involved with anyone, she said.

On Dec. 6, detectives saw a man matching the suspect’s description, who walked with a distinctive gait.

Police said he reluctantly identified himself as Jones and mumbled and covered his mouth when speaking to the detectives.

As police spoke to him about the investigation and two outstanding warrants on him, Jones claimed he had a leg injury and needed medical attention, police said.

He was brought to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was aggressive toward hospital security officers, became angry with the detectives and said, “All those kids died in Newtown. You’re not doing shit about that.”

Police said the Yale hoax occurred on the day the official incident report on the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting was released.

On Feb. 21, detectives met with Jones and his attorney and they served a warrant for a voice recording from Jones.

Police said he deliberately disguised his voice the first two times, but then provided a true sample, which matched that of the person who made the 911 call.

Jones was arrested on Tuesday, when he turned himself in to police.

Police said he has also been charged with vandalism targeting New Haven Police.

Around 1 p.m. on Jan. 9, police spotted Jones walking toward West Water Street from South Orange Street, behind the New Haven Police headquarters building and he was throw nails under parked cars, police said.

He is accused of targeting about 60 personal vehicles owned by police officers, unmarked police cars and about 15 marked police cruisers.

Jones was arrested and charged with criminal attempt to commit criminal mischief in the first degree in that case and  and breach of peace in the second degree.

Jeffrey’s brother, Douglas Jones, said he was upset about the way police handled the arrest. 

“It was the behavior of bullies, and that’s what I found offensive,” Douglas Jones said about the way police came to his mother’s house looking for his brother. “They are only accusations and circumstantial.”

Contact Us