Student's
threats lead to arrest
Boy reportedly spoke of plans to bring
weapons to Warren Hills, kill classmates.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005 • By TOM QUIGLEY •
The Express-Times
WASHINGTON TWP. -- A Warren Hills Regional High School
student is charged with threatening to bring weapons to
school and kill his peers during lunch period, authorities
report.
The juvenile, whose name is being withheld by
authorities, was arrested at the school Thursday after
township police received a report about the alleged threats,
according to the Warren County Prosecutor's Office.
The report involved two high school boys making the
threats.
The investigation is continuing and no charges have been
filed against the second boy, authorities said.
The other boy is charged with terroristic threats.
He was held at the Warren Acres juvenile center and
subsequently released, said Warren County Prosecutor Thomas
S. Ferguson.
Warren County First Assistant Prosecutor Frank Bucsi
said township police did a good job in responding to the
incident. Bucsi said any alleged threats must be taken
seriously by law enforcement.
Warren Hills Regional High School Superintendent Peter
Merluzzi said it's unfortunate threats of this nature
occur.
"All threats are taken seriously," Merluzzi said.
Merluzzi also praised police and prosecutors for their
response to the situation. He said recent events reinforce
the need to react quickly to threats.
Ten people were killed in a shooting spree Monday at a
remote Indian reservation in northern Minnesota. Most of the
shootings happened at Red Lake High School on the
reservation.
Fifteen-year-old high school student Jeff Wiese killed
nine people and then fatally shot himself, authorities
said.
Reporter Tom Quigley can be reached at 908-475-8184 or by
e-mail at tquigley@express-times.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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