Toms River School On Lockdown: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Students and staff at the Washington Street Elementary School are on lockdown Thursday afternoon after a suspicious person was reported in the area of the school, Toms River police said.

A Nixle alert from police said officers are on the scene investigating after the person was seen in the parking lot of the school, which is just south of Route 37.

"Children are safe inside," the alert said.

Toms River police, in a post on Facebook, said a student reported seeing a suspicious man on the school grounds.

"Out of an abundance of caution the school staff initiated a lockdown," the post said.

Parents were asked not to go to the school: "It will only get in the way of us checking the surrounding area," police said.

This is a breaking news report and will be updated as more information becomes available.