Email Threat Places Monmouth University On Lockdown

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — Monmouth University, located in West Long Branch, was placed on a lockdown Tuesday morning after the Monmouth County Prosecutor said some students and faculty received a threat over email.

Students and faculty told campus police they had received an email shortly after midnight Tuesday from an individual saying they "were armed and hiding on campus, where a dangerous device had also been placed," said the prosecutor.

In response, police issued a lockdown and all students and people on campus were told to shelter in place.

This was done so the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, the Monmouth County Rapid Deployment Force and the Monmouth County Sheriff could search all university buildings.

The campus-wide search found nothing, and there was "no indication of validity to either claim outlined in the email," said the prosecutor's spokesman.

An all-clear was issued at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Classes and activities at Monmouth University will resume as scheduled at 10 a.m.

The Monmouth County Prosecutor continues to investigate the source of the email. Anyone with information about this matter is being asked to contact MCPO Detective Daniel Chernavsky at 800-533-7443 or Monmouth University Police Department Detective Tracy Carretta at 732-571-4444.

Police from Asbury Park, Deal, Long Branch, Manasquan, Marlboro, Ocean Township and West Long Branch all assisted with the campus-wide search Tuesday morning.