West Orange Schools Give 'Bobby the Clown' Threat Update

WEST ORANGE, NJ - West Orange school administrators said Tuesday that they haven't heard any additional threats from "Bobby the Clown."

On Monday, school officials reported that an unknown individual known as "Bobby the Clown" made a post on Instagram with a photo of West Orange High School that stated: "this school next hahaha."

• See related article: West Orange Schools, Police Investigate ‘Bobby The Clown’ Instagram Post

West Orange schools were previously scheduled to be closed on Monday and Tuesday for Rosh Hashanah.

West Orange police launched an investigation into the alleged post and increased their presence around the district's schools, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Superintendent Jeffrey Rutzky released an update about the situation.

"The police indicate there have been no additional posts or threats made against West Orange High School or any other school in the district from 'Bobby the Clown,'" Rutzky stated. "The West Orange police continue to investigate the matter. Unfortunately, other school districts in Essex County, the state and country are dealing with the same kinds of threats. In Washington Township, two students were arrested for making 'clown threats' as well as another student in Philadelphia."

Rutzky continued:

"In line with social media safety, I was notified today from a Superintendent of Schools in Morris County that a suspicious individual is trying to contact students via social media under the name 'Lauren Ann Viper,' specifically on Instagram. Please discuss this with your children and check their accounts to make sure they have not made contact with this person. It is very important that we continuously remind our children to never give out personal information online."

Rutzky concluded:

"As previously indicated, the West Orange Public Schools will be open on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. District-wide after school activities and athletics will occur as scheduled. Additional West Orange Police Department presence will be at West Orange High School and patrolling around the other district schools.
Hopefully this scary trend on social media will end soon. As a reminder, if you have any information in reference to this incident or future suspicious activity, please contact the West Orange Police Department immediately. Thank you for your help to keep our children safe."

File Photo: Flickr Commons