Student Threatened School Shooting In Barnegat: Police

BARNEGAT, NJ — A student threatened to "shoot the school up" at Brackman Middle School in Barnegat, police said Thursday night. Authorities searched the kid's home and the school and couldn't find a weapon, said Barnegat Police Chief Keith Germain.

There is no threat to the Brackman School, Germain said. But the kid won't return to school until the district believes it is safe.

Barnegat Superintendent Dr. Brian Latwis sent a message regarding an incident that transpired at the end of Thursday's school day. Authorities provided few details throughout the day.

Germain specified late Thursday night that a student threatened a school shooting.

"(Latwis) cooperated with our request to not release any information that would jeopardize the investigation or the safety of those involved," Germain said.

K-9 officers from the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, NJ Transit and the Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Boro, Brick, Beach Haven and West Windsor police departments helped conduct the searches.

Police didn't release further details about the nature of the threat. Students brought the threat to administration's attention, said Principal Shannon Smith.

"Please reinforce with your children the importance of being an upstander and reporting anything concerning to the administration or a staff member," Smith wrote to parents. "We are thankful this time turned out to be unsubstantiated."

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