Prayers for everyone's safety.

i don't know what to say... prayers being said.. hope everyone is okay

praying

Wash Townships schools have implemented "Safety Measures" as a precaution. i continue to hope for a safe resolution.

Quick Check was not robbed...

I repeat...

Quick Check NOT robbed....

just called my Coworkers there twice now and there has been no robbery at the Quick Chek on Mountain avenue contrary to what the rumors say.

Praying

We haven't gotten any report of a robbery at Quick Chek or anywhere else at this time, but we're still scrambling for information, so we'll let you know if that changes.

We've now also spoken to staff at the Quick Chek, and they said it didn't happen.

my kid got coffee at quckcheck right before the lockdown. NO robbery.

As much as the improved technology today helps to get us up to date information doesn't anyone think its also counter-productive? Who's to say the gunman doesn't have an IPHONE or Blackberry or another devide that gives him/her up to date information as to where the police are or what they are doing?

all centenary classes before 4pm cancelled.

@Herman -- That's a fair concern. We (and most other media) try to avoid posting anything that might impede an ongoing investigation or compound a public safety issue, so there may be times we're privy to information but we don't yet share it.

But generally speaking — the cat's sort of out of the bag. People talk, people make phone calls, people send text messages, and along those lines, rumors and distortions and exaggerations and misinformation can seep in pretty easily. So we do our best to get out accurate, verified information as quickly as we can, and quash rumors if we can confirm they're not true. If there's going to be a lot of chatter, we'd like to do what we can to make sure it's accurate, in the interest of public safety.

I apologize if that came out wrong. As a parent the information is welcomed and much appreciated. I just wonder if at times it becomes counter productive.

its probably nothing as ususal its probably a guy with a rake

@Herman. We hear you. That's why we're cautious about what we post and how we word it in dicey situations. And we suggest others take that concern to heart, too — there's a lot of virtual "word of mouth" possible these days with social media, text messages and so on ... people should be mindful that they can cause a panic with wrong info, or tip off someone dangerous in a manhunt if they're not careful.

The only thing that's been reported is that the police are looking for a gunman in Hackettstown. I'm sure the gunman (if he exists) has figured that out by now.

So, every time the new principal at West Morris Central has a cup of coffee or a random thought we get bulletin emails, texts and recorded phone calls. Nothing on this?

PS: Hillsborough locks down? I guess they are the ones drinking too much coffee.

someone is saying the high school was cleared out already .... is this true?

according to centenary lockdown is over at 1:53pm

this whole thing is probably a hoax. must be exciting for them since there's nothing at all that happens in hackettstown.

Really Michael? Columbine Virginia Tech Need I say more? Better to err on the side of caution.

What can they do? If the threat turns out to be real and they don't take it seriously we have a big problem. If the threat is fake and they do something they look bad. They have to respond. They have to. The state police joined the search. Everyone acted in the correct way -- as though the threat were real. (Although it made one friend ask if it was mid-terms this week.)

The sky is falling the sky is falling. What a bunch of idiots! A few terrorist making a some phone calls around the nation could shut this country down for a week.

I did finally get an email from West Morris Central.

It was a link to a music video produced by one of the classes. Quote: "Their rendition ofThe Earth Song speaks to the strength of our music programs and the dedication of their teachers-....etc., etc, 300 words more about the Earth Song.

It would be nice if the school used the alert system for what it was intended to do.

Louis, If the quick chek wasn't robbed why not remove the posts that are on here spreading rumors of such. You have found them to be false, so remove them to help stop the rumor. If the original post cannot be deleted by the person who posted it, then wouldn't it be in the public's best interest for you to do that?

Great job Jason/Patch for keeping us all up to date throughout the day--appreciate it!

The Warren County Prosecutor's Office will host a press conference at Hackettstown High School at 3:30 p.m. Long Valley Patch editor Jason Koestenblatt will have the report as soon as possible.

We're expecting some more updates. There's a press conference starting in 10 minutes, and Jason will be in attendance.

PM82 -- We generally try to avoid deleting comments. We'll delete them if they're profane, or include personal insults or are otherwise highly inappropriate, but we try to err on the side of inclusion when something's borderline. In this case, we'll leave the original post, because we also have up the responses refuting it, so we're not overly concerned it will spread false information that could be dangerous in any way.

Thank you so much Jason and the Patch for keeping us all informed. I feel as if the police and schools acted appropriately concerning the threat. Better to be overly cautious than laxed! Children's lives are on the line!

Thank you Patch for the updates. Perhaps a bit more reasonable tone to the comments, somewhere between hysteria, and those believing no discussion should have taken place until the first body hit the floor, would have been more appropriate today. Everyone should be tolerant that people run the gamut of emotions during incidents. We all react differently.

Glad to see you took the high road

Question: if the authorities are now saying it's unfounded, then why do you still have your update as saying "Residents are urged to stay indoors"?

When they lock down a school, do they at least lock it down with an armed teacher, staff, guard of police inside? Otherwise they may be locking the students and staff in with the gunman, giving the person a clear and safe opportunity to maximumize the deaths and injuries.