Student's Cell Phone Perceived as Gun Spurs School Lockdown, Cops Say

A student holding his cellular phone at a bus stop Friday morning led one passerby to believe it was a weapon, sending the Long Valley Middle School into a lockdown, Washington Township Police said.

A motorist reported that as they drove by a bus stop Friday morning, they saw a teen male point a “black shiny metallic object” toward passing cars, Lt. Mark Niemynski said. Students at that stop were boarding the bus at the time, Niemynski said.

The motorist then alerted another bus driver passing the area, saying they believe it was a handgun in the student’s possession, Niemynski said. Washington Township police were notified and the Middle School was immediately put into a lockdown at 8:50 a.m.

Officers responded to the school and located the student in question, Niemynski said. While investigating, police learned the student had extended his arm while holding a cell phone while traffic was passing, Niemynski said.

The lockdown was lifted around 9:20 a.m. and classes resumed.

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