Police have suspects in custody after social media threats of shootings close some South Jersey schools

Four juveniles who authorities say posted threats on social media, some of which led to the closure of multiple schools in South Jersey on Monday, have been arrested, police said.

A 12-year-old from Woodbury, a juvenile from Glassboro, and a 15-year-old from Mullica Hill were in custody in connection with social media posts of threats to at least five schools throughout Gloucester and Camden Counties, South Jersey police and school officials said Monday. The 12-year-old is a student at a Woodbury public school, according to a letter posted to the school district website.

A fourth juvenile was arrested Monday after police learned of a social media threat against Bunker Hill Middle School, in Washington Township, Police Chief Patrick Gurcsik said in a Facebook post. Police learned of the threat at 8 a.m. and removed a boy from the school and took him into custody, he said. The boy was charged with false public alarm and making terroristic threats, police said. It is unclear if the threat made against Bunker Hill Middle School was related to the other threats against South Jersey schools.

Those social media posts threatened shootings at schools in Gloucester County, said Thomas Gilbert, chief of detectives at the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office. Along with the boy from Washington Township, the other three suspects are charged with false public alarm, said Gilbert.

The threats were not credible, he said, but the prosecutor’s office, aided by local police departments, continues to investigate.

Woodbury School Superintendent Andrew T. Bell Sr. had announced in a letter Sunday night that all district schools would be closed Monday due to a threat posted on social media. In neighboring Deptford Township, Superintendent Kevin Kanauss announced that all Deptford Township schools also would be closed Monday.

“While we do not believe the threat to be credible, we are exercising extreme caution to ensure the safety of our students, staff and families,” Bell said in the letter. “Please be assured that school safety remains our top priority, and we are taking every precaution necessary to maintain a secure environment.”

All after-school activities were also canceled as well as transportation services, Bell said.

According to the district’s website, Woodbury City Public Schools consist of Evergreen Avenue Elementary, Walnut Elementary, West End Memorial Elementary, and Woodbury Junior-Senior High School.

He urged families to report any relevant information to police or school officials. Police said calls should be made to 609-221-6721.

The closings come just days after a mass shooting at a school outside of Atlanta that left two teachers and two students dead and nine others wounded. A 14-year-old student has been charged in that shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder.