Ridgefield Park Junior/Senior High School, Ridgefield Park, NJ
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella announced charges against a 16-year-old juvenile and a 15-year-old juvenile from Bergen County, as well as a 15-year-old juvenile from the Bronx, New York for false public alarm and terroristic threats. The charges in this matter are the result of an investigation conducted by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office under the direction of Chief Matthew Finck.
On Thursday, January 23, 2025, members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Threat Management Unit were notified by both the Fairview Police Department and Ridgefield Park Police Department that separate, unknown telephone callers, who were using technology to anonymize their caller ID, placed calls to Lincoln Elementary School in Fairview and Ridgefield Park Junior/Senior High School threatening shootings at both locations. The Fairview Police Department, Ridgefield Park Police Department, Bergen County Regional SWAT Team, and other assisting agencies ensured the safety of the facilities while members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Threat Management Unit and detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit initiated an investigation to trace the calls. Ultimately, law enforcement discovered that the calls affecting their respective jurisdictions were a hoax,
and no actual threat existed to the schools. Detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office established that while the calls were directed at different school districts, they were nevertheless related and identified the source of the calls.
As a result of the investigation, detectives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Cyber Crimes Unit determined that the calls were made by a 16-year-old juvenile and a 15-year old juvenile from Bergen County, as well as a 15-year-old juvenile from the Bronx, New York. Between February 7, 2025, and February 13, 2025, all three juveniles were located and charged with juvenile delinquency, specifically: two counts of second-degree false public alarm, N.J.S.A. 2C:33-3a(1)(b) and two counts of third-degree terroristic threats, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3(b). All three juveniles were released into the custody of their respective guardians pending further action by Bergen County Superior Court Family Law Division.
Prosecutor Musella states that the charges are merely accusations, and that the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Prosecutor Musella thanks the Fairview and Ridgefield Park Police Departments for their response and assistance with these incidents, as well as the local police departments of Bergen County for their partnership in investigations like these. Additionally, Prosecutor Musella thanks the New York City Police Department for its assistance in this investigation.
