Active Shooter Hoaxes – A disturbing series of swatting incidents recently led to the lockdown of Union High School and Newark Science High School in New Jersey.
The incidents, which involved false reports of an active shooter, triggered an immediate and heightened response from local law enforcement.
These events have raised concerns among parents, students, and school officials about the growing threat of swatting false emergency calls intended to incite chaos and fear.
On Monday, October 21, Union High School was placed under lockdown after local police received a report of an active shooter on campus. The call, which turned out to be a hoax, prompted a swift response from the Union Township Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to the scene in large numbers, prepared for what they believed was a real emergency. Students were ordered to remain in their classrooms as law enforcement officers conducted a thorough sweep of the building. Parents of students at the school were alerted to the situation, many expressing fear and uncertainty as they awaited updates.
While the lockdown lasted for a couple of hours, it was later confirmed that there was no real threat, and the report of a shooter had been part of a swatting attempt. The school was eventually cleared, and students were released without incident. No injuries were reported, but the incident left many shaken.
On the same day, Newark Science High School in Newark, New Jersey, was also the target of a similar swatting attempt. Like Union High School, the Newark school was placed on lockdown after authorities received a false report of an active shooter. The Newark Police Department responded swiftly, entering the school and conducting a room-by-room search to ensure the safety of students and staff. Parents and guardians were notified, and many rushed to the school, fearing for their children’s safety.
After a tense few hours, law enforcement confirmed that the report was false, and the lockdown was lifted. While no students or staff were harmed, the fear and panic caused by the swatting incident left a lasting impact on the school community.
Swatting, the act of making a false report to emergency services to provoke a large law enforcement response, has become an increasingly concerning issue. These hoaxes can have serious consequences, not only causing widespread fear and panic but also diverting law enforcement resources from real emergencies. In some cases, swatting incidents have led to unintended violence or injuries, as officers respond to what they believe is a genuine threat. In the case of the Union High School and Newark Science High School lockdowns, the swatting incidents appear to have been coordinated. Both schools received false reports of active shooters around the same time, indicating that these hoaxes were part of a larger, deliberate effort to disrupt the schools and frighten the community.