Threats Lead to Lockdown in New Jersey Schools After Employee Falsely Accused in Charlie Kirk Incident
This week, Linden, New Jersey’s school district was locked down after violent threats related to an employee’s fraudulent identification. An inflammatory video praising Charlie Kirk’s assassination was wrongly credited to a Linden Public Schools staffer, sparking community outrage. Officials said the video was not made by the person, but threats and terror circulated across town.
The eleven-campus school system secured all facilities after the video went viral. Police instructed students and staff to hide in place while investigating the purported post and assessing threats. Despite social media accusations, authorities confirmed that the video’s originator is not linked with Linden Public Schools.
The misattribution led to harassment and threats against the wrongfully accused employee, increasing safety concerns. Linden’s mayor expressed deep worry for the accused and the school community. The mayor urged calm and the suppression of misinformation, saying no one should be targeted by lies.
The local and regional police departments investigated the threats together. The district has also enhanced school grounds security. Officials said violence and threats against innocent people had no place in society. The investigation seeks to determine how the misidentification occurred and bring false claim spreaders accountable.
In response, community leaders urged truth, prudence, and appropriate information sharing. They advised waiting for confirmed reports before believing online claims. The episode illustrates how quickly disinformation can spread from social media to real-world danger and the necessity for rigorous processes to safeguard school safety and personal reputations.
This narrative relied on local police statements and media coverage.
Sources
Report from local officials detailing lockdown and false attribution
Statements from Linden mayor regarding threats and safety concerns
Media coverage of the Charlie Kirk shooting and connection to social media misinformation
