N.J. to beef up police presence at schools after shooting at Texas elementary kills 21

New Jersey will beef up police presence at colleges throughout the state after a gunman killed at the very least 19 college students and two adults at an elementary college in Texas on Tuesday, the Backyard State’s high legislation enforcement official introduced.

Performing state Lawyer Normal Matthew Platkin mentioned he has directed the New Jersey State Police and all 21 county prosecutors within the state to “improve legislation enforcement presence at colleges all through New Jersey efficient instantly.”

Platkin mentioned the State Police will improve its presence at colleges the place troopers are the first legislation enforcement, whereas county prosecutors will direct native police departments to do the identical. He didn’t say how lengthy this might final.

“Our college students, their households and caregivers, academics, and college directors ought to really feel protected in class, and be assured that New Jersey’s legislation enforcement companies will do every little thing of their energy to guard them,” Platkin mentioned in an announcement.

Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted later Tuesday night that Platkin is making the transfer as a precaution although there are “no credible threats.”

Murphy responds to Texas elementary college taking pictures with one other plea for extra gun management

Tuesday’s taking pictures at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde, Texas — carried out by an 18-year-old gunman — is the deadliest taking pictures at a U.S. grade college since a gunmen killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012.

Platkin — whom Murphy, a Democrat, picked as state lawyer basic — mentioned Tuesday that he spokes with New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Callahan and legislation enforcement officers throughout the Backyard State to “guarantee coordination within the aftermath of this tragedy.”

Platkin additionally mentioned “nothing about that is regular.”

“We should not have to just accept that we stay in a rustic the place kids are shot only for going to high school,” he mentioned. “My coronary heart goes out to the households of the victims, and we should all do every little thing we are able to to finish the epidemic of gun violence.”

In a separate assertion Tuesday, Murphy as soon as once more known as for extra motion on gun management, saying “there is no such thing as a higher accountability than defending our kids — and our nation is failing this most simple take a look at.”

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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Brent Johnson could also be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Observe him on Twitter at @johnsb01.