10 days, 17 school threats in NJ

[Monello]

The pendulum has clearly swung in the opposite direction. Better safe than sorry or paranoia?

[FONT=&quot]In the 10 days after a former student in Parkland, Florida, [/FONT]fatally shot 17 students and faculty members at his old high school[FONT=&quot], threats to schools and reports of fear-provoking social media posts streamed in across New Jersey, prompting worry, police investigations and criminal charges.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The reality that such a tragedy could hit any school at any time has put parents, students and school officials on edge, and leaves authorities chasing any clue that a similar attack could be planned at a local school -- including those that turn out to be jokes in bad taste or unsubstantiated.

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Some have resulted in arrests for making threats or causing alarm, while others have simply been dismissed as rumors or posts featuring weapons that didn't directly threaten schools or communities. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]A 15-year-old resident in West Deptford High School was arrested Friday morning after allegedly making threats over Snapchat.
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The juvenile posted about plans of "[/FONT]shooting up West Deptford[FONT=&quot]," leading school officials to contact police, authorities said.

[/FONT]Matawan - [FONT=&quot]On Feb. 17, a student in the district was [/FONT]taken into police custody[FONT=&quot] for allegedly making terroristic threats.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A 12-year-old student was arrested at Anthony Rossi Intermediate School on Wednesday for causing a false public alarm, according to Vineland police. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]The boy allegedly told other students he planned to bring a gun to the school and open fire. His fellow classmates alerted administrators and police were called to the school.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The boy reportedly [/FONT]told officials he had been joking[FONT=&quot].

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]School officials placed students at Irvington High School on lockdown Wednesday morning after a former student allegedly posted about plans to "shoot this s--t up" in a Snapchat post. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Students at the high school saw the post and alerted faculty,

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Police investigated a high school student in Bloomfield this week after he allegedly posted a photo of himself holding a gun alongside a caption that "[/FONT]made a derogatory and inflammatory reference to the tragedy in South Florida[FONT=&quot],"

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A student at Eastern Regional High School was facing charges after [/FONT]allegedly bragging about plans to "shoot up" his school[FONT=&quot].

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]On Feb. 15, Nutley schools Superintendent Julie Glazer closed schools for several days after a video was reportedly posted to Instagram appearing to show local students firing a rifle and handgun. The song "Pumped Up Kicks," which mentions shooting a gun at people, was also played in the video. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Police found no credible threat stemming from the video, but the incident still prompted 16 parents to [/FONT]call for the posting of armed guards[FONT=&quot] at all seven of Nutley's public schools.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A half-hour lock down took place at Brooklawn Middle School Feb. 16 after a student found a bullet in the hallway, police said.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The 14-year-old boy was charged with disorderly conduct on Feb. 15 following an investigation into "implied threats" made against township schools and students, according to police.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The next day, the 13-year-old was charged with cyber harassment and creating a false public alarm after the teen used "electronic communications" to threaten township schools and students, police said.

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Police arrived at the home of a district student after receiving a report that the student had a list of others he intended to harm. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]After an investigation, police determined that the incident was merely a rumor circulating on social media, and that there was no imminent danger to the schools. [/FONT]

 

[3CATSAILOR]

The pendulum has clearly swung in the opposite direction. Better safe than sorry or paranoia?

Don't forget it is NJ you are talking about.

 

[Monello]

When is not a threat a threat?

Better watch what you post.

An 18-year-old Nutley High School student remained jailed Saturday after authorities said he posted an "alarming" Instagram video that included images of teens shooting a handgun at a firing range along with photos of his school and students in a classroom.
Although he wasn't deemed a threat, the video led to charges of creating a false public alarm against Joseph Rafanello, 18.