The evacuation of the Oak Street School today was prompted by an automated message that threatened the students and staff members, a law enforcement source close to the investigation confirmed to TLS.
The message, similar to another ‘Swatting’ incident in New Jersey, was apparently a “text-to-talk” type message which was not recorded by a live person, the source said.
In the message, the suspect reportedly threatened to have armed men show up to the school to shoot children and teachers, the source said.
The school, with approximately 1,200 faculty members and students, was immediately evacuated and moved to a nearby school until the all-clear was given – approximately two hours later.
It’s still too early in the investigation to determine the origin of the call, the source said.
Assisting at the scene were the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department and New Jersey Transit Police.
Police remained at the school until dismissal time.
[TLS]
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