Police: Student Arrested In Alleged School Threat In Woodbridge; Guns Found
WOODBRIDGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police in Woodbridge, New Jersey said a teenager was under arrest Friday following an alleged threat, and weapons were uncovered in his home.
As CBS 2's Christine Sloan reported, police made the arrest after a tip from parents and students who did not want to take a chance.
It all started with a rumor Sunday that something big was going to happen at Woodbridge High School.
The threat was "that he was going to come to school and shoot some people," said Woodbridge police Director Robert Hubner.
But the problem for police was that the students circulating rumors on social media had no firsthand knowledge of the verbal threat, allegedly made by a 17-year-old student. Thus, the suspect, now in police custody, could not be suspended and came to school as usual for two days.
But extra police officers kept watch, along with the principal.
"He spoke with the child. He spoke with the parents," said Woodbridge Township School District Supt. Robert Zega.
A break in the case came Tuesday after interviews. A dozen students now described as heroic came forward and helped police.
But with school shootings across the nation, including in Washington and at Sandy Hook, the what-ifs haunted everyone.
"It's sobering," Zega said. "You can speculate on what could have happened, but we'll never know what could have happened, and that's a good thing."
When police arrested the student, they discovered shotguns illegally owned by his father. Investigators said they weren't locked up and the student had access to them.
"He was just left out and stuff," said fellow student Grace Trivino. "He really didn't associate with people."
Parent Billy Trivino said he was glad that the student was arrested.
"They took action toward what had to be done and they took care of it, but still, you know, it's there," he said.
Because the student is a juvenile, his name cannot be released. He faces many charges, including making terroristic threats.
But what worries many is that a judge could release him from a juvenile detention center.
Zega said he could not specifically talk about whether the student was suspended. But he wanted to assure parents that he will do everything to make sure everyone at the school is safe.
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