Authorities lockdown Toms River High School East early Friday afternoon
Police vehicles outside Toms River High School East early Friday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of @MikeMoores24 via Twitter)
UPDATE HERE.
An unspecified threat apparently made over a popular social media service prompted a lockdown at Toms River High School East early Friday afternoon, police said.
Police responded to the high school at 12:08 p.m. after receiving information about the threat, which was made on Snapchat Thursday morning but not reported until just after noon Friday, Toms River Police Department spokesman Ralph Stocco said in a release.
“As a precaution, the school was immediately placed on lockdown, and police, fire, and EMS units responded,” he said. “An extensive search of the school determined that it was safe.”
The spokesman did not elaborate on the nature of the threat.
The lockdown was then lifted, and dismissal was set for 1:35 p.m., Stocco said.
“Police detectives are currently interviewing a suspect and have no reason to believe that a current threat exists,” he said.
An investigation is ongoing.
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