Crime & Safety

East Brunswick Police Investigate 'Swatting' Hoax Targeting Central Elementary School

There was no actual danger to students and staff at the school, police said.

The call was made around 1:16 p.m. on Monday.
The call was made around 1:16 p.m. on Monday. (East Brunswick Police Department )

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - East Brunswick police responded to a hoax threat at Central Elementary School on Monday afternoon that officials have determined to be a "swatting" incident, with no actual danger to students or staff.

On Monday, around 1:16 p.m., the East Brunswick Police Department received a call from an unknown person threatening an active shooter incident at Central Elementary School, 371 Cranbury Road.

Officers immediately responded to the school and met with school security officials, who stated that there were no known active shooter threats. As a precaution, East Brunswick High School was also placed in a “lockdown,” and the remaining schools were placed in a “Shelter in Place.”

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Police worked closely with school security to conduct a thorough on-scene investigation, which verified that there was no active shooter threat and determined it to be a “swatting” incident, authorities said.

"Swatting” is a term used to describe a hoax call made to emergency services, typically reporting an immediate threat to human life, to draw a response from law enforcement and the S.W.A.T. team to a specific location.

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The East Brunswick Police Department continues to investigate the swatting incident.

Anyone with information about this incident may contact the East Brunswick Police Department Investigative Division at 732-390-6990.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

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