Man Threatened To 'Shoot Up' South Jersey High School: Prosecutor

One day after 17 people were killed in a school shooting in Florida, a Camden County man was charged with threatening to terrorize students and staff at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees, the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office announced.

Jacob Finkelstein, 18, of Voorhees, has been charged with one count of second-degree false public alarm and one count of third degree terroristic threats.

He was arrested on Feb. 15, after multiple students reported that they heard him saying he was going to shoot up the school, police said. After learning of the threats, police arrested Finkelstein and searched his home. No weapons were found at the home, according to Voorhees Police Capt. Captain Carmen Del Palazzo.

Finkelstein was remanded to Camden County Correctional Facility pending a court appearance.

The arrest came after a former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people.

“As we all process the tragic events in Florida, I wanted to reach out to our families and share resources. The primary focus of our faculty and staff is our students’ safety,” Eastern Regional High School Principal Robert M. Tull Jr. said in a statement on the school’s website. “Counselors and administrators are available for students experiencing anxiety and other emotions. It is important that we have dialogue with our children to discuss the images they may be seeing and messages they may be reading via social media. We realize students may need help processing the information and are unsure how to express themselves.

"Eastern Regional High School will continue to remind our students and staff of safety protocols that have been developed in conjunction with the Voorhees Police Department, State Police, and the Office of Homeland Security. We will be vigilant in regards to securing doors, screening visitors, and practicing our security drills. We want our students to be diligent while feeling safe. We encourage students and parents to report concerns regarding social media posts or other sources, and to seek support when feeling unsettled. We are receptive to learning all concerns and will follow-up with students and parents as needed."

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