NJ Child, 12, Charged After Naming Students In False Shooting Threat

BRIDGETON, NJ — A child was arrested Friday after naming certain students as potential targets of a school shooting, authorities said.

The child, 12, posted the threat on social media, listing the names of students at Broad Street School in Bridgeton, police said. The suspect never intended to follow through with the shooting and only made the post to see how people would react, according to law enforcement.

Police did not disclose the identity of the suspect, who was charged with making terroristic threats and causing false public alarm.

Authorities became aware of the threat Thursday and launched an investigation. Police learned that the child picked students' names at random and did not make a legitimate threat.

The child has no access to weapons, said Bridgeton Police Chief Michael A. Gaimari.

"The Bridgeton Police Department would like all families, school staff, and members of the community to know that this incident has been resolved and handled accordingly," Gaimari said.

In recent weeks, school shooting threats have emerged throughout New Jersey and nationwide. Authorities believe they are linked to a larger trend.

• Read more: Online School Shooting Threats Spike Across NJ: What To Know

Across the nation, school shooting "hit lists" have been circulating on social media, leading to police investigations, lockdowns and multiple arrests of students —including a 10-year-old in South Jersey and several others around the state.

None of the threats in New Jersey have been deemed credible so far. But the uptick in reported threats come on the heels of a high school shooting in Georgia on Sept. 4 that took four lives, raising fears of copycat incidents.