Yesterday’s lockdown at Rumson-Fair Haven High was prompted by a terroristic threat sent by a 17-year-old Ocean Township boy in an instant message to a 16-year-old female student, today’s Asbury Park Press reports.

The threat was neither sent to the girl while she was at school nor directed at the school itself, authorities told the newspaper. The girl informed administrators of the threat after she arrived at school, Superintendent Peter Righi told the Press.

The boy, who doesn’t attend the school, is being charged with making a terroristic threat, according to the Press. No detail is given on whether he attempted to conceal his identity in making the threat. Because he’s a minor, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s office didn’t disclose his name.

Righi said the school was placed in lockdown status at about 11:30 a.m. after the threat was brought to the attention of school administrators.

First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter E. Warshaw said the threat had “absolutely” no connection to the school itself or other students at the school, and was independent of activities at the school and involved no other students.

“There was no evidence of any planned violence for the high school or anticipated to take place on school property,” Warshaw said.

School officials, police and the Prosecutor’s Office used the lockdown “as a precaution,” Warshaw said.

The threat emanated from two locations, Righi said, but neither the school nor law
enforcement authorities disclosed them.

Students were dismissed at 2:40 p.m., the usual dismissal time, under supervision of Rumson police and members of the prosecutor’s office, the Press reports.

Email this story