WESTFIELD — Westfield High School was placed on multiple lockdowns Wednesday morning after two possible threats were made against the building on social media.
“We immediately initiated a lockdown, securing all classrooms, hallways and external entrances,” Westfield High School Acting Principal Bill Loughran said in a message to the school community shortly after the first lockdown had been lifted. “At no time was any student or staff member in danger.”
The district was notified by the local police department of the threat at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday after most students had already reported to school for the day. Students who did not have a first-period class were transported to the Westfield Armory, and every other school in the district was placed under a shelter-in-place directive as a precautionary measure.
Westfield Police acknowledged an ongoing investigation at approximately 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, but requests for additional information were not returned at the time of publication.
“I am pleased to report that the threat has been resolved, everyone is safe, and classes have resumed as normal,” Mr. Loughran said. “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the Westfield Police Department for their swift response and support. Additionally, a big thank you to our students and staff for their outstanding cooperation throughout the lockdown.”
The second lockdown came just before 11:30 a.m. with a statement from the district saying that law enforcement was investigating “another potential threat”. The other Westfield schools were put on “shelter in place”.
The Westfield Leader will update this story when more information becomes available.
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Updated 2/12/25 at 11:47 a.m.
At 8:08 AM, the Westfield Police Department responded to Westfield High School following reports of a potential threat through a conversation on a social media platform. In accordance with related protocols, the school was placed under lockdown at 8:14 AM in order to properly assess the threat. Out of an abundance of caution, all other schools in the district implemented a shelter-in-place protocol. Officers conducted a thorough sweep of the school until the threat was ultimately deemed not credible and the lockdown was lifted at 9:05 AM.
At 11:14 AM, the Westfield Police Department responded a second time to Westfield High School, following new and potentially threatening comments from inside the school. Once again, the school was placed under lockdown at 11:19 AM and all other schools in the district implemented a shelter-in-place protocol. Following a second thorough sweep of the school, the second threat was also deemed not credible and the lockdown was lifted at 11:56 AM.
The sources of both complaints were identified and brought to the Westfield Police Department for questioning, and both matters remain under investigation in consultation with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. No criminal charges have been filed in either case at this time, and additional details will be released as they become available.
The Westfield Police Department extends its thanks to the Westfield Public Schools for their partnership, and to the students, staff, and faculty at Westfield High School for their patience and cooperation as these situations were brought to a safe resolution.
