Columbia High School Lockdown: 2 Students May Have Been Involved In Social Media 'Threat'

The social media posts that led to a Code Yellow lockdown at Columbia High School in Maplewood last week may have involved two students, according to a report.

Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron stated that the Nov. 11 incident was spurred when administrators received notice that CHS students had “posted images and words related to an act of violence against our school.”

• See related article: Code Yellow Alert Was Result Of Social Media Post, Principal Says

The Maplewood Police Department responded to the scene shortly afterwards, where school administrators had gathered hundreds of students and prevented them from entering the building.

The Code Yellow alert was cleared around 10:30 a.m. that day, authorities stated.

According to the Maplewoodian, the lockdown was prompted by a 9th grade male student’s post on Instagram that claimed he would create a video of himself shooting up the school if his post received 1,000 likes.

The student, a South Orange resident, was arrested at his home and charged with making terroristic threats, the Maplewoodian reported.

A second student was also questioned during the incident, according to police reports.

According to the Maplewoodian:

“A second student was also detained within the school and questioned for allegedly posting a response and encouraging the first student online by stating, ‘You’re gonna beat me to it.’”

The student has apparently not been charged with a crime, the Maplewoodian reported.

In a letter following the threat alert, Aaron warned parents and staff about being alert about what their children post online.

“Please take time tonight to review safe social media practices with your students, remind them that references to guns, violence, or other crimes can elevate what they think may be a ‘harmless’ post to an issue that creates the conditions we had at CHS this morning. A comment or posting by a student or one that a student chooses to re-post may result in charges of making terroristic threats and can result in suspension or expulsion from school.”