Scotch Plains police: Handgun recovered in Union Catholic High School prompted lockdown; student charged
The student involved was taken into police custody and charged with several weapon charges.
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A handgun was found Monday inside Union Catholic High School, prompting a districtwide school lockdown, Scotch Plains Chief of Police Jeffrey Briel confirmed in a release on Tuesday.
Briel says the Scotch Plains Police Department received a call from a member of the school administration at 10:45 a.m. about a handgun that had been recovered at Union Catholic High School. Police recovered the weapon, and as a precaution, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district and surrounding towns went into a temporary lockdown that was lifted at 2:40 p.m.
MORE: Reports of armed student prompts shelter-in-place at several Union County schools
The student involved was taken into police custody at 8 p.m. and charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm and possession of a firearm in an educational institution, according to police.
Officials say there were no indications of threats or harm to the school, students or personnel during the incident. They say the school is deemed safe and secure.
Maria Margiotta, a spokesperson for Union Catholic High School, said in a statement to News 12 New Jersey, "The school routinely implements security drills to practice safety procedures for responding to emergencies, as per state guidance. Students also are urged to speak up if they see or hear anything that could represent a potential school safety concern."
