Crime & Safety

Gun Hoax Leads to Serious Situation at K-5 School

Two students' report of an armed man in the woods puts Union Valley Elementary School on lockdown.

Union Valley Elementary School was placed on lockdown Friday afternoon after two students reported seeing a man armed with a gun in the woods near the K-5 school.

Gloucester Township Police spent about an hour searching the area and the school's interior for the reported gunman while the school's hallways and common areas were cleared of students and staff members.

Members of Gloucester Township Police Department's Investigations Bureau Juvenile Investigation Unit determined the two students had not actually seen an armed man in the woods, Capt. Anthony Minosse said on Monday.

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Police arrived at the Sicklerville school at 1:18 p.m. Investigating officers deemed the school safe and cleared the area at approximately 2:20 p.m.

One police officer stayed at the school for another hour, until approximately 3:30 p.m., when students safely boarded their buses and left the property at the school's regular dismissal time.

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The school notified parents of the incident, Minosse said.


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