South Brunswick Student Made Threats With Knife, Charged: Police

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A 17-year-old South Brunswick High School student has been charged after he threatened two other students with a knife, South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka and District Superintendent Scott Feder said.

On Tuesday afternoon, South Brunswick High School was placed on lockdown. Around 2:15 p.m., a staff member reported that two students informed them that another student had threatened them with a knife.

School administration and South Brunswick School Resource Officer Det. Scott Bucca immediately placed the school on lockdown. Within minutes, a dozen South Brunswick officers responded to the school and began a systematic search of the facility.

At the same time, Bucca along with other detectives interviewed the staff member and tracked down the students who had been threatened, police said.

On speaking with the students, Bucca recognized the suspect's description. Officers then located the suspect in a classroom. Authorities recovered a folding knife during a search. The 17-year-old was placed under arrest and taken to South Brunswick Police Headquarters, authorities said.

The school lockdown was lifted at 2:50 p.m.

The juvenile is being charged with unlawful possession of weapon, possession of weapon for unlawful purpose, and terroristic threats.

Chief Hayducka credited the swift actions by school administration and police with resolving the situation.

“That situation was evolving rapidly and everyone took action to ensure it did not escalate,” Hayducka said.

The South Brunswick School District will have an enhanced police presence at the school in coming days to reassure students, staff, parents and community members.

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