SOUTH JERSEY

Multiple South Jersey high schools face threats; one in custody

The Courier-Post

Police in three Gloucester County towns are investigating threats made on social media against several South Jersey high schools.

West Deptford police confirmed Friday a township teenager was in custody and facing charges related to threats to West Deptford High School.

West Deptford School officials notified police Friday morning about a threatening social media post. The post, made on Snapchat mentioned "shooting up West Deptford," according to the police department.

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Police investigations determined students at West Deptford schools were not in danger. But a 15-year-old township resident was taken into custody, police said.

The teen is expected to be charged, according to police.

The wave of threats came just a week after 17 people — students and faculty — were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida. The Valentine's Day shooting is the second-deadliest school shooting in the United States.

As Stoneman Douglas High School's student survivors raised major concerns about gun control in Washington, DC this week, at least four Gloucester County schools raised security measures on South Jersey campuses.

Friday afternoon, Woodbury School District released a statement to parents indicating a West Deptford student allegedly made a threat on Snapchat toward Woodbury High School.

According to the Woodbury School District, Woodbury and West Deptford police investigated the threat, identified the student and "are handling the situation."

It is unclear if the same West Deptford student is involved in both alleged school threats.

Threats to two more schools — both in Deptford — were also revealed Friday, but school officials would not link incidents to the threats to West Deptford or Woodbury schools.

Deptford Township police investigated "social media posts" late Thursday indicating there would be a school shooting at Deptford High or Gloucester County Institute of Technology. The threat's source, the police department said, has been identified and police took "immediate action to assure the safety of the schools," the department said.

Deptford High School officials noted on the district's website, a week-old threat made toward the school. Late Thursday, officials said, the district was alerted to the threat when other students discussed it on social media.

GCIT administrators reported early Friday campus security had been increased amid threats to the school. A message from the superintendent Mike Dicken indicated the high school, which educates students from across Gloucester County, was mentioned in a "threatening Snapchat/ text message" Thursday night. The district is working with Gloucester County Sheriffs and other law enforcement, it reported.

Multiple South Jersey high schools face threats; one in custody

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