Police Patrol NJ Schools In Response To TikTok Gun Threat Challenge

NEW JERSEY — Increased police are stationed at nearly all New Jersey schools Friday as parents, students and teachers across the nation try to ride out an alarming TikTok challenge, which encourage young people to threaten gun violence at their schools.

A 13-year-old Somerset County student was criminally charged after police say he sent a text message Tuesday threatening violence at the middle school, but it is unknown if that arrest is connected to Friday's TikTok challenge.

So far, no arrests have been made anywhere in New Jersey in connection with the TikTok trend. No specific school in New Jersey appears to be targeted with a threat.

Late Thursday afternoon, the state office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and the state Department of Education alerted all New Jersey districts to the Dec. 17 challenge. Starting early Friday morning, many school districts added extra police on school grounds as a precaution. School districts across the U.S. have added extra police.

Across the state, many parents have simply decided to keep their children home from school on Friday. One mom said her son reported nearly half of Woodbridge High School did not show up.

"My son told me it was eerie walking through the halls this morning; it's so quiet," said mom Kristine Heller, saying she heard of "many" fellow parents who decided to keep their children home from school.

Toms River dad Lou Turdo said he and his ex-wife decided to keep their daughter home today.

"These days, you just never know," he said. "Her mom and I talked about it and we both felt the same way: It just wasn't worth the risk. The kids have been through enough this year."

Heller said her son confided in her that he was nervous to go to school Friday morning.

"He said some students are really nervous. I know he is, too. I told him these TikTok people are bullies; they want to scare the kids of our nation into not going into school today. Still, I understand how he feels."

Heller said she was extremely relieved to see the increased police presence at Woodbridge High School Friday morning.

The Tik Tok challenge comes on the heels of the ninth anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the Michigan school shooting on Nov. 30 that killed four students and injured several others.

The Woodbridge school district sent an email saying no district schools had been specifically threatened. Similar messages were sent by the many superintendents across New Jersey.

It also comes after two weeks of threats and rumors against New Jersey schools, including some that involved firearms. Read more: 11 NJ School Threats, Some Involving Guns, In Past 2 Weeks

While it's unclear where the December rumor originated, a news release issued by the Tooele County School District in Utah said the original threat started as a way for students to skip school, but "morphed into something much more disturbing."

According to some reports, the December challenge is one of several in a string of monthly challenges stemming from the social media platform.

In September, another challenge called "Devious Licks" encouraged raucous acts of vandalism at schools. To participate in the challenge, students and TikTok users shattered mirrors, stole soap dispensers, fire alarms and football field turf, and intentionally clogged toilets, all while filming the antics to post on TikTok.

RELATED: TikTok 'Devious Licks Challenge' Pushes Schools To Brink

"We want to remind all students and parents when you see a threat, report it, do not repost it," Tooele's statement reads. "Reposting a threat serves no purpose other than adding to the fear and uncertainty of the situation."

Anyone who has any information about potential threats can make a report any time of the day to New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Protection's CTWatch at 866-4SAFENJ (866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.

Read more:

• More Police In Parsippany Schools Friday, But No Threat Found: PD
• Chester Police Address TikTok Challenge: 'No Known Threat'
• Somerset County Student, 13, Who Threatened Violence Charged: PD
• Tik Tok Threat Results In More Police At Cherry Hill Schools
• No Threat In South Brunswick, PD Aware Of TikTok 'Challenge'
• Increased Police At Woodbridge Schools Due To TikTok Challenge

With reporting by Megan VerHelst and Karen Wall.

Parents: Did you keep your children home from school Friday because of concerns prompted by this TikTok "challenge" or did you not feel assured enough by the extra police presence? Let us know by contacting this Patch reporter at Carly.Baldwin@patch.com.