Extra security is on hand at Dumont High School in New Jersey after a threat was made against the school on Monday.
Someone overheard a 15-year-old sophomore allegedly make a threat to “shoot up” the school. Police were called and the school was placed on lockdown just before noon.
“He was taken into custody without incident. He was transported from 101 New Milford Avenue, Dumont High School, to our police station,” Dumont Police Chief Mike Connor said.
Police officers flooded the school and the Bergen County SWAT was also on scene. Officers also found a weapon at the student’s home.
“From his house we did retrieve one long gun, one rifle. It was in his house, it was not with him in the school. It was not brought to the school property,” Connor said.
The lockdown was lifted after 3 p.m. and the student has been suspended from school indefinitely.
Classmates of the suspect said they were surprised by the threat. They said he's a quiet kid without many friends, but they never thought he would do something like this.
"He seemed like a normal kid. It's just a pretty unfortunate thing to happen and I hope that he gets the help that he needs," one student told WOR's Alice Stockton-Rossini.
Classmates didn't believe the sophomore was bullied and suspect it may have just been a "stupid remark" that he made. They said the family hunts, which would explain the rifle that was found.
"i don't think the kid was actually going to do anything," one student said.
The incident comes less than two weeks after a school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead. The massacre has led to a debate about having armed guards and armed teachers in school.
In New Jersey, multiple schools have considered or have already taken action. The East Brunswick Board of Education voted unanimously to have armed police officers at all of its schools. Officials in Mahwah and Nutley are considering similar plans.
Photo Credit: Alice Stockton-Rossini