2 Eastside students arrested for talk of Columbine-like attack

PATERSON – Two students at Eastside High School were arrested on charges of making terrorist threats on Tuesday after they allegedly talked about engaging in a Columbine-like attack against teachers at their former elementary school, authorities said.

Police searched the students' homes on Tuesday and found no weapons, officials said. But they were detained and arrested based on statements they had made during the past week, officials said.

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The youths – one male and one female – had attended New Roberto Clemente School, which was the alleged target in their talks of an attack, officials said.

Paterson Police Director Jerry Speziale said detectives in the juvenile division were notified about the threats on Tuesday. “It was determined to be a valid threat,” he said.

Deputy Police Chief Troy Oswald confirmed that terrorist threat charges were filed against the youths, whose names were not released.

The principal at New Roberto Clemente School, Hector Montes, convened an emergency meeting of school staff on Tuesday afternoon, according to the president of the city’s teachers union, John McEntee Jr. The union president was not at the meeting but he was told about what happened by three staff members who attended.

The principal told the staff that the students had gone on websites talking about mimicking high-profile school gun attacks like those that happened at Columbine High School in Colorado and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., according to McEntee.

The principal said the suspects were “in the early stages” of developing an attack, McEntee said. At least one teacher had been mentioned by name as a possible target, according to McEntee.

Board of Education President Christopher Irving said he was unaware of the situation. District administration officials were not available for comment.

“We are working very closely with the school district,” said Speziale, “to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”

McEntee said he was particularly concerned about the threats because the school district had cut its security staff by 30 percent at the start of the current school year.