‘He Dies Tonight’: Montclair Teacher Threatened Principal, Police Say

MONTCLAIR, NJ — More details have emerged about a social media threat that a Montclair teacher allegedly made against a fellow educator, which temporarily shut down the town’s school district earlier this week.

All public schools were closed in Montclair on Monday after a 45-year-old staff member on administrative leave wrote a message on social media involving the principal at Northeast Elementary School.

That staff member – later identified as Amir Doctry, 45 – was arrested at a home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was charged with making terroristic threats and additional charges may be pending, police said.

Authorities said that Doctry, a teacher at Northeast Elementary School, was put on administrative leave last week when he started showing signs of “erratic behavior,” The New York Times reported.

Doctry allegedly began harassing the school’s principal with text messages after his access to the school and its databases were revoked, 6ABC News reported, citing court documents. He is undergoing a mental health evaluation in the wake of the incident.

Doctry has been accused of posting a video on YouTube in which he said he believed he would get a promotion to become the district superintendent. The video’s caption included a phrase that apparently referenced the principal at Northeast Elementary School: “Joe must die school shooting Montclair school shooting kills Dr. Joe Racsim Racist Joe is dead. He dies tonight.”

The video has since been removed from the platform for violating its community guidelines.

The Montclair Police Department was alerted about the video on Sunday and immediately launched an investigation, working with the Montclair Board of Education, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI throughout the night to identify the source of the threat.

As a precautionary measure, the board of education made the decision to close all schools on Monday, authorities said.

The Montclair Public School District released the following initial statement about the closures:

"All schools in the Montclair School District will be closed today, Monday, January 13, 2025, due to a security concern. Late yesterday evening, we were made aware of a potential threat to our district. Upon receiving this information, we immediately contacted the Montclair Police Department and have been closely following their guidance."

More details about the situation were released later in the day, with police announcing Doctry’s arrest around 11 a.m. Read More: Threat Made To Montclair School Staffer, District Closed

Students returned to class on Tuesday, with Montclair police increasing patrols around all schools in the district out of an abundance of caution, authorities said.

“We would like to reassure the public that there is no further danger to our community,” police said.

A childhood friend of Doctry told TAPinto Montclair that the incident is unlike him. “It is all so shocking,” they added.

Doctry has previously been commended for his work in the district, receiving a grant in 2018 to help students interview and learn from professionals in different countries, Montclair Local reported.

A LinkedIn profile bearing his name claims several achievements as a teacher in Montclair, including a "highly effective" rating and leading professional development sessions on remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic.

MAYOR: ‘FEEL SAFE AND SECURE IN MONTCLAIR’

Other local leaders have repeated the assertion that there is no threat to the community.

After Monday’s school closures, Mayor Renee Baskerville said there is no active threat to children or families in Montclair or other nearby towns.

“An active investigation was underway and every precautionary measure was taken to assure the safety of our community,” the mayor said. “Families may go about their regular activities and feel safe and secure in Montclair.”

Private schools were never involved, and the concern is isolated to Montclair schools and does not affect surrounding communities or institutions, she added.

“We believe that what may have posed a threat is now resolved ... but will continue to monitor the situation,” Baskerville said.

Interim superintendent Damen Cooper said the threat was “neutralized” – but not before it caused anxiety and disruption for students, staff and families.

“Your safety remains my highest priority,” the superintendent wrote in a message to the community. “Thank you for your patience, understanding and support throughout this time.”

Monday’s shutdown also sparked anxiety in nearby towns.

Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell issued a statement about the incident, saying that “there is no threat to Bloomfield Public Schools.”

“Police Chief [George] Ricci has been in communication with the Montclair Police Department as well our own superintendent,” Mundell added. “As always, we are ready to support our neighboring communities if/when they need it.”

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