Increased Police At Hillsborough Schools Due To TikTok Challenge

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — In response to a potentially threatening TikTok challenge that has been spreading across the country, the Hillsborough Township School District wants parents to know they were aware of the situation.

The TikTok challenge encouraged students to threaten gun violence at school on Dec. 17.

"We have been made aware of a national TikTok trend threatening gun violence at schools tomorrow, Dec. 17," wrote Superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes in a letter to the community. "We have met with the Hillsborough Police Department and although these threats are unsubstantiated at this time and there is no viable threat to students or staff, we will have extra police presence throughout the district during school hours tomorrow."

Antunes noted that students will be "held accountable for their actions."

"We know that most of our students make the right choices each day and we are proud and grateful that they do. However, please be reminded that any threats made by students will be fully investigated by the Hillsborough Police Department and those students will be held accountable for their actions," continued Antunes. "Threats or 'hoaxes' will not be tolerated and we are requesting that you speak to your children regarding the serious nature of making, posting, or sharing any kind of threat on the various social media platforms."

Antunes also asked that any parent or student or teacher report anything unusual or anything they see on social media to the police right away. Read More: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

"Of course, please remain vigilant in reporting any specific information of concern or suspicious activity to your child’s principal. We appreciate the support in assisting us to keep the safety of our students, staff, and school community a priority," said Antunes.

Multiple law-enforcement agencies say they are monitoring reports of the challenge, which has encouraged students to threaten gun violence at their schools on Friday. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the state Department of Education's Office of School Preparedness and Emergency Planning alerted New Jersey districts to the Dec. 17 challenge, and several notified parents, students and staff while also taking steps to increase security.

The threat is a generic one to schools across the country, officials in several districts said as they tried to reassure families that students and staff will be safe.

The Tik Tok challenge comes on the heels of the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Michigan school shooting on Nov. 30 that killed four students and injured several others.

The Dec. 17 challenge is a part of a larger series of school-based TikTok challenges targeted at young kids.

In September, a TikTok challenge encouraged students to vandalize the schools, assault staff and show their private parts.

These challenges also come after two weeks of threats and rumors against New Jersey schools, including some that involved firearms. Read more: 11 NJ School Threats, Some Involving Guns, In Past 2 Weeks

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