TikTok Threat Prompts Larger Police Presence At Galloway Schools

GALLOWAY, NJ — Galloway Township School District Superintendent Annette Giaquinto announced that there will be an increased police presence at the district's schools amid a nationwide social media threat warning of the potential for school violence on Friday.

"Although there are no known threats against any of our schools, as a precautionary measure, there will be an increased police presence at our schools particularly tomorrow, December 17th," Giaquinto wrote in a letter to parents.

“As in the past, I encourage you to actively monitor your child’s(ren’s) social media use and consider discontinuing your child’s(ren’s) use of social media outlets that continually thrive on rumor and threats," Giaquinto said.

Schools around the state and the country are issuing similar statements prompted by reports of a TikTok challenge. Read more: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

In the past two weeks, schools in New Jersey reported at least 11 threats and two incidents of students bringing guns to school in Somerset, Hudson, Ocean, Gloucester and Mercer counties.

Three threats were reported in Bridgewater, Cherry Hill, and Jersey City on Tuesday — which was the ninth anniversary of the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut where 20 children and six women were killed. Read more: 11 NJ School Threats, Some Involving Guns, In Past 2 Weeks

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