UNCW student charged with arson for incident on campus

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A UNCW student has been charged after warrants claim he allegedly started a fire in a campus building.

In the early hours of the morning on April 27, University Police responded to Loggerhead Hall. A student pulled the fire alarm after they noticed smoke coming from the elevators. When police arrived, they noticed ash and heavy smoke in the area. They found a flier that was taped inside the elevator had been burned.

No major damages were reported.

The investigation led them to Nicholas Morganelli, 19, of Raleigh. The warrant lists potential charges including a felony charge of “burning of a school house,” as well as some misdemeanor drug-related charges and a charge of possessing a fake driver’s license.

A UNCW statement says Morganelli is a student enrolled since fall 2024.

The investigation is still ongoing and no further information is available at this time.