Parent Threatened To 'Shoot Up' Union Co. School Tuesday: Police

UNION COUNTY, NJ — The principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Union Township was threatened by a student's parent who said she would "shoot up" the school on Tuesday, according to an announcement from Union Police on Wednesday.

The principal told police that she was threatened on the phone by a parent of one of the elementary students. She said the parent became upset with her and told her she was going to come to the school and "shoot the whole place up."

Police were notified of the threat at around 1:28 p.m. on Tuesday.

The principal then put the school on lockdown, and police officers were sent to the school. Police said the students stayed in their classrooms while officers looked for the parent who made the threat.

School dismissal was delayed, and officers were stationed inside and outside the school to ensure everyone stayed safe.

Union officers had been checking near the parent's home, and after about an hour from the initial call, officers found the parent while she was returning home. She was stopped and arrested for the threats she made on the principal, police said.

After she was arrested, the school returned to normal and the children were dismissed, according to police.

The parent was charged with making terroristic threats and later sent to the Union County Jail.

Jefferson Elementary School is located on 155 Hilton Avenue in Union.