How Many Weapons Were Found In Westfield Schools?

WESTFIELD, NJ — Statistics recently released by the state Department of Education showed that 578 schools, including Westfield, had at least one incident involving a "weapon" during the 2016-17 school year.

Westfield Senior High School reported one case involving weapons. While Hillcrest Academy-South in Union reported the most cases in Union County with seven.

The DOE defines "weapon" as anything from a handgun to items that were much more commonly found in schools, including knives, air guns and even pepper spray.

"Weapons include any instrument readily capable of lethal use or of inflicting bodily injury," according to the state Department of Education.

Neptune High School in Monmouth County had the highest reported cases in the state with 18. (For the full list of schools in NJ click here)

The issue has resonated with the public and public safety officials since the mass fatal shooting of 17 people at a Florida high school last week. Police departments in several New Jersey communities have been increasing their presence at area schools following a rash of potential threats in their local school districts last week.

• Read more: At Least 5 NJ School Threats Investigated In Last 72 Hours
• Read More: 2 Teens Charged After Threatening Jefferson Schools: Police

Below is a list of Union County districts with the highest to lowest number of cases involving weapons (districts reporting no cases were not included):

• Hillcrest Academy-South, UNION CO ED SERV COMM, UNION 7.00
• Thomas A. Edison Career and Technical Academy, ELIZABETH, UNION 5.00
• David Brearley Middle/High School, KENILWORTH, UNION 5.00
• George Washington Academy School No. 1, ELIZABETH, UNION 3.00
• Elmora School No. 12, ELIZABETH, UNION 3.00
• Dr. Antonia Pantoja School No. 27, ELIZABETH, UNION 3.00
• Admiral William F. Halsey Jr. Health & Public Safety Academy, ELIZABETH, UNION 3.00
• Franklin Elementary School, RAHWAY, UNION 3.00
• Union Senior High, UNION TWP, UNION 3.00
• Winfield Scott School No. 2, ELIZABETH, UNION 2.00
• John Marshal School No. 20, ELIZABETH, UNION 2.00
• Mabel G. Homes School No. 5, ELIZABETH, UNION 2.00
• J. Christian Bollwage Finance Academy, ELIZABETH, UNION 2.00
• John E. Dwyer Technology Academy, ELIZABETH, UNION 2.00
• Linden High School, LINDEN, UNION 2.00
• Washington Community School, PLAINFIELD, UNION 2.00
• Rahway High School, RAHWAY, UNION 2.00
• Lamberts Mill Academy, UNION CO ED SERV COMM, UNION 2.00
• Orange Avenue School, CRANFORD, UNION 1.00
• Terence C. Reilly School # 7, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Nicholas S. Lacorte-Peterstown School No. 3, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Toussaint Louverture-Marquis de Lafayette School No. 6, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Abraham Lincoln School No. 14, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Christopher Columbus School No. 15, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Woodrow Wilson School No. 19, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Ronald Reagan Academy School No. 30, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy, ELIZABETH, UNION 1.00
• Hillside High School, HILLSIDE, UNION 1.00
• Hurden Looker School, HILLSIDE, UNION 1.00
• Walter O. Krumbiegel Middle School, HILLSIDE, UNION 1.00
• George Washington School, HILLSIDE, UNION 1.00
• Number 2, LINDEN, UNION 1.00
• Plainfield High School, PLAINFIELD, UNION 1.00
• Rahway 7th & 8th Grade Academy RAHWAY, UNION 1.00
• Leonard V. Moore Middle School, ROSELLE, UNION 1.00
• Terrill Middle School, SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REG, UNION 1.00
• Jonathan Dayton High School, SPRINGFIELD, UNION 1.00
• James Caldwell Elementary School, SPRINGFIELD, UNION 1.00
• Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School, SUMMIT, UNION 1.00
• Burnet Middle School, UNION TWP, UNION 1.00
• Westfield Senior High School, WESTFIELD, UNION 1.00

(Image via Shutterstock)

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