19-Year-Old Charged After Break-Ins at UNCW Seahawk Village Residence Hall

WILMINGTON, NC — Safety concerns have intensified at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) campus following the arrest of a 19-year-old man accused of breaking into student apartments. The suspect, identified as Nicholas Morganeli, was taken into custody by UNCW police on Saturday, March 21, 2026, following reports of unauthorized entry at the Seahawk Village residence hall.

According to campus police and court documents, the incidents occurred early in the morning of March 21. Morganeli allegedly gained access to two separate apartments within the Seahawk Village complex. Inside one of the apartments, the intrusion escalated when the suspect allegedly climbed into a female student's bed while she was asleep. The victim woke up, realized a stranger was in her bed, and raised the alarm, prompting the suspect to flee.

Following a rapid response by UNCW police officers, Morganeli was located and arrested near the scene. He has been charged with two felony counts of first-degree burglary and one count of sexual battery. The university's housing and security administration released a statement advising students to keep their apartment and bedroom doors locked at all times, emphasizing that secure access card gates are only as effective as the personal security measures taken by residents.

Morganeli was booked into the New Hanover County Detention Center. The investigation remains ongoing as police determine whether he has any affiliation with the university or if he had targeted the specific residence hall beforehand.