Orange HS has delayed opening Thursday following threat Wednesday evening

Orange High School and Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry and Innovation were both locked down for more than two hours.

Matt Trapani and Chris Keating

Apr 13, 2023, 5:43 PM

Updated 470 days ago

Share:

A threat leveled at Orange High School Wednesday evening put the district on high alert and led to lockdowns at two schools.
Orange High School and Orange Preparatory Academy of Inquiry and Innovation were both locked down for more than two hours. Officials say that some sort of threat was called in around 5:30 p.m. Additional details were not provided.
Video shared with News 12 New Jersey shows students inside Orange High School pushed up against walls while heavily armed police officers walked by in tactical gear. The students were previously in night class sessions, along with a volleyball game.
Video recorded outside of the school also shows a janitor who was overwhelmed by the situation being carried outside.
Despite some online rumors, officials say that there was not any gunfire inside of the school.
The school had a delayed opening until 10 a.m. Thursday as a precaution. A student who wished to remain anonymous told News 12 that he and many other students were afraid to come to school.
“You would see maybe five kids per class. No one was coming in,” the student said. “Personally, I was unnerved. I’m not going to say I was scared. It’s horrible it’s becoming normalized around the country now.”
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Gerald Fitzhugh wrote, “The lockdown lasted for over two hours to ensure that a thorough walk-through of both facilities was conducted with precision."
The superintendent went on to say, "Considering recent school shootings and threats across the nation, the district and local authorities take each incident as a priority."
A similar incident occurred at Monmouth University last month. Students were evacuated and SWAT teams searched the campus after someone mistook a curling iron for a gun.
The Orange superintendent went on to tell parents that it is important to talk with children and offer them a chance to share their concerns.
News 12 reached out to the Orange Police Department to find out more about the incident but was referred to the mayor’s office. News 12 is waiting to hear back.


More from News 12
2:16
Fire at Fair Lawn strip mall destroys multiple businesses, including popular Zadies Bakery

Fire at Fair Lawn strip mall destroys multiple businesses, including popular Zadies Bakery

2:42
Beautiful weekend ahead for New Jersey with sunny skies and warm temperatures

Beautiful weekend ahead for New Jersey with sunny skies and warm temperatures

1:54
Boar’s Head deli meat recalled for potential listeria contamination

Boar’s Head deli meat recalled for potential listeria contamination

0:46
New Jersey to receive more than $72M to help coastal communities prevent flooding

New Jersey to receive more than $72M to help coastal communities prevent flooding

1:43
Officials: Lead found on Keyport beach not ‘urgent risk’ to public health, no need to close beach

Officials: Lead found on Keyport beach not ‘urgent risk’ to public health, no need to close beach

0:44
Jersey Proud: Goya Gives Day collects 100,000 pounds of food donations

Jersey Proud: Goya Gives Day collects 100,000 pounds of food donations

1:01
‘It’s a beautiful sport.’ New pickleball courts open in Howell Township

‘It’s a beautiful sport.’ New pickleball courts open in Howell Township

0:29
Man who pleaded guilty to attacking Jewish men sentenced to 30 years on terror charges

Man who pleaded guilty to attacking Jewish men sentenced to 30 years on terror charges

0:55
EPA completes Phase 1 of Superfund site cleanup at Unimatic Manufacturing site in Fairfield

EPA completes Phase 1 of Superfund site cleanup at Unimatic Manufacturing site in Fairfield

0:20
West New York school named for Sen. Menendez to revert to original name

West New York school named for Sen. Menendez to revert to original name

0:30
Attorney general: NJ state trooper ‘inexcusably crossed the line,’ admits to punching handcuffed woman in the face in 2022

Attorney general: NJ state trooper ‘inexcusably crossed the line,’ admits to punching handcuffed woman in the face in 2022

0:15
East Brunswick police: Bicyclist killed in Route 18 crash

East Brunswick police: Bicyclist killed in Route 18 crash

0:30
No one injured in Kenilworth house fire

No one injured in Kenilworth house fire

1:04
Attorney general releases body camera footage of fatal Hamilton police-involved shooting

Attorney general releases body camera footage of fatal Hamilton police-involved shooting

0:15
Part of Manchester’s Harry Wright Lake closed due to high levels of fecal bacteria

Part of Manchester’s Harry Wright Lake closed due to high levels of fecal bacteria

0:23
2 dead in Maine plane crash after leaving New Jersey airport

2 dead in Maine plane crash after leaving New Jersey airport

0:18
$1 million lottery ticket won from $20 scratch-off at North Wildwood Wawa

$1 million lottery ticket won from $20 scratch-off at North Wildwood Wawa

1:59
Paws & Pals: Felicity now up for adoption at Associated Humane Societies

Paws & Pals: Felicity now up for adoption at Associated Humane Societies

1:17
Gov. Murphy discusses potential Menendez replacement on ‘Ask Gov. Murphy’

Gov. Murphy discusses potential Menendez replacement on ‘Ask Gov. Murphy’

0:40
State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program

State, federal lawmakers introduce legislation to shorten funding gap for World Trade Center Health Program