Man says he has bomb in backpack at N Edgewood Ave Burger King

Jacksonville, FL — A man has surrendered after walking in to a local Burger King and saying he had a bomb in his backpack.

Police now say there was no device found.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was called to the scene on N Edgewood Avenue around 5:30PM. Roughly five customers and five staff members were evacuated from the Burger King.

JSO says, initially, the suspect- who’s now been identified as 30-year-old Andrew Pearce- refused to leave. After speaking with investigators, we’re told he safely surrendered. JSO’s Hazardous Devices Unit was called to inspect the backpack, and treated it like it contained a bomb initially because of the threat. They have since determined there was no device.

It’s unclear at this time what motivated this Pearce’s actions. He is being charged with making a false threat of bombs and criminal mischief.