Police: Bathroom Graffiti Warns of Bomb Threat at High School

Graffiti found on a bathroom wall of West Orange High School Wednesday warned of a bomb threat by the end of the month, West Orange police said.

According to officials, the writing was found above a urinal in the bathroom saying there would be a bomb scare by April 30.

"We believe this is an adolescent prank and the threat is not serious," the district said in an email to parents. "Nonetheless we are treating it with the utmost seriousness."

In response, police presence will increase at the high school thoughout the next week. Parents in the district also received a reverse-911 call about the incident Wednesday afternoon.

West Orange police are investigating the threat. 

The district's full response to parents below: 

We write to inform you that some disturbing graffiti indicating that an act of violence would occur in West Orange High School on April 30 was discovered in a lavatory earlier today.

We believe this is an adolescent prank and the threat is not serious; nonetheless we are treating it with the utmost seriousness. In the days leading up to that date, and especially on April 30, you and your children should expect an increased presence of law enforcement in and around the school. Our Administrators, Deans and Security will be speaking with many students to try to determine the individual who wrote the graffiti and to determine if the threat is credible. The West Orange police were notified immediately and will work with the high school administration in this investigation.   

Please share any information you may have in this matter with the high school administration or the West Orange Police. We will keep you posted and thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.

Jim O’Neill, Interim Superintendent
Hayden Moore, High School Principal

Check back with Patch for updates on this breaking news story. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.