An Uneasy Morning In Galloway Township

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, NJ - Three schools in the township were briefly placed on lockdown or shelter-in-place situations after police investigated reports of shots fired in the area, officials said.

Lockdowns were put in place Thursday morning at Pilgrim Academy, Absegami High School, and Stockton University, according to a report in The Press of Atlantic City.

Galloway Township police confirmed Thursday morning that Pilgrim Academy was on lockdown. Stockton University police confirmed a report of shots fired in the area and issued a "shelter-in-place" order.

Cumberland County College was also on lockdown, according to the school, in an unrelated incident. That lockdown was also lifted around 11:30 a.m.

Lockdowns in all three schools were lifted as of 11:30 a.m., the report states.

"Our police have responded to shots fired that came from a local residence that came from our Germania section of the township close to Pilgrim academy,” Mayor Anthony J. Coppola said in a statement. “Every in the school is safe, they followed proper protocol,” he said. “At no time were any of the staff or the children in jeopardy.”

Moss Mill Road from Odessa Avenue to Rutgers Court was closed for two hours Thursday morning.

This is a developing story. Patch will update when more information is available.

Image: Courtesy of Galloway Township police department