A New Jersey public school district ordered an immediate shelter-in-place for students and staff at 11 schools after the district was flooded with violent threats when an employee was mistakenly identified as the author of an inflammatory social media post about the killing of Charlie Kirk, authorities said.
The Linden Police Department said the district's schools, including Linden High School, were placed on lockdown Thursday as law enforcement responded to threats made against the district and the employee. Police said the person behind the clip “is not, nor has ever been, an employee of Linden Public Schools.” The threats are under investigation, the department added.
Mayor Derek Armstead urged the public to stop harassing the employee and the school community. In a social media post, Armstead said the staff member is “completely innocent and has absolutely no connection to the video” and expressed concern for the employee's and students' safety as threats were being directed at the district.
Authorities said they were increasing police presence at the district in the coming days. NewJersey.com reported that law enforcement resources will be beefed up around Linden schools as the investigation continues. The Linden Police Department warned that threats of violence have no place in schools and emphasized that violence is never an answer.
The social media post in question referenced the assassination of Charlie Kirk, 31, the founder of Turning Point USA, who was shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025. Kirk, who had been touring for his "American Comeback Tour," was killed after answering an audience question about transgender shooters, according to law enforcement and media accounts. The suspect in the killing remained at large as of Friday morning.
News reports said the clip sparked widespread online reaction, and the misidentification of the Linden employee helped fuel a wave of harassment and threatening messages directed at the school district. Linden officials did not disclose the employee's identity and said the safety of students and staff was the highest priority.
Police reiterated that the person who posted the inflammatory clip was not and never had been an employee of Linden Public Schools. The department said it understood the strong public emotions following the killing and joined others in condemning the shooting in the strongest terms, while urging the public to refrain from threats and harassment.
Officials did not provide details about the content of the clip or the identity of the person who posted it. The investigation into the threats and the misidentification remains ongoing. Linden school officials have not announced changes to the academic calendar but said they will maintain heightened security measures and coordinate with local law enforcement to ensure the safety of students and staff.
The episode highlights tensions that followed the high-profile killing and the rapid spread of unverified information on social media. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have repeatedly warned that online accusations can lead to real-world threats and urged caution and verification before reposting potentially inflammatory material.
As police continue to investigate the threats in Union County, school officials and civic leaders called for calm and for anyone with information to come forward to assist investigators. The Linden Police Department said it would provide updates as appropriate while protecting the privacy and safety of those targeted by the misidentification.