Alleged Gun Statements Prompt Manchester HS Investigation

MANCHESTER, NJ — Manchester Township authorities are continuing to investigate allegations that a Manchester Township High School student made a "potentially dangerous statement" involving a gun, district officials said Wednesday.

Manchester Township Police Capt. Vincent Manco said Thursday that text message statements were investigated and found not to be credible.

In a letter dated Dec. 1 and addressed to parents and guardians, Manchester Township High School Principal Dennis Adams said Manchester police were investigating "allegations of a student making comments about a gun." The letter to parents was posted to a Manchester Facebook group by a parent who received it.

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"In consultation with the Manchester Township Police Department and their procedures, the school district is following their protocols for any potentially dangerous statement," Adams wrote.

"While there is no evidence of the presence of a weapon in school, the alleged statements made by the student are taken very seriously," he said. "This student is not currently in school and will not be on school grounds until the police department and school district fully investigate this situation and deem it appropriate."

"Our utmost priority is the health and safety of our students and staff," Adams wrote, saying parents, students and staff would be notified as additional information was available.

Word of the investigation comes a day after four students were killed in a Michigan high school shooting and seven others were injured. A 15-year-old student has been charged as an adult in the killings.

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