Update, 4:53 p.m: Police arrested one student for weapons possession in an incident that led to Thursday afternoon’s Code Yellow shelter-in-place. Read more below.
Maplewood Police arrested a 15-year-old 9th grade Columbia High School student for weapons possession in an incident that resulted in a Code Yellow at the school earlier today.
At around 12:08 p.m., Maplewood and South Orange Police officers responded to CHS following a report of a student possibly having a weapon, said Maplewood Police Capt. Dawn Williams in a media release. “Officers worked with the CHS staff and quickly resolved the incident,” said Williams in the release.
The student was taken in custody; police eventually determined the weapon was a toy handgun, Williams said.
Police determined the student had shown the weapon to a 14-year-old male student. As a result, the 15-year-old “will receive numerous charges” and will be remanded to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center, Williams said.
Earlier this month, CHS was under a Code Yellow that resulted from a social media posting by a 14-year-old student.
In June, a CHS student was arrested for possessing an “air-soft” BB type gun that led to a Code Yellow at the school.
And, just over a year ago, the school was placed under a Code Red lockdown sparked by a student bringing a weapon — which turned out to be brass knuckles — into the school.
Here is the Maplewood Police Department release in full:
Columbia High School went into a relatively brief Code Yellow Thursday afternoon, after students reported a student might be in possession of a weapon. Students and staff sheltered in place, while classes continued, said the district.
Maplewood Police located the student and what was described as a “toy weapon,” and the lockdown was lifted.
A district spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether any arrests had been made. The Village Green has reached out to the Maplewood Police Department and will update this story as more information is available.
Below is the letter sent by the school district shortly after 1 p.m.
Dear CHS Community,
This afternoon upon returning from lunch, students reported that another student might be in possession of a weapon. CHS administrators worked with the Maplewood Police Department to go into a code yellow shelter in place as a precautionary measure while investigating the allegation. Shelter in place means that no one is permitted to enter or leave the building, but that classes continue as usual. The Police Department secured the student in question and a toy weapon. The code yellow has now been lifted, and all students and staff are safe. Students proceeded to their period 7 classes on schedule.
We are grateful for the assistance of the Maplewood Police Department in keeping our students and staff safe.
South Orange Maplewood School District
