HACKETTSTOWN — A school lockdown sparked by reports of a man armed with a rifle is now over, and students are being released from local public schools and a college campus, according to school officials.

Centenary College issued an alert a few minutes ago, saying the lockdown on their campus is over and everyone on campus is safe. A school spokesman was unsure why the lockdown was lifted, saying only that the school received a call from campus security ending the lockdown.

The Hackettstown school district also issued an update on its website several minutes ago, saying the lockdown is over and calling the gun threat "unfounded."

"The Hackettstown Public Schools (have) been directed by local law enforcement to lift the lockdown. All schools will have a regular and normal dismissal," the website update reads. "The Warren County Prosecutor's Office, NJ State Police, and the Hackettstown Police Department have determined that the students, schools, and community are safe. The threat was unfounded and the nature of the threat is a matter of an ongoing investigation."

News 12 New Jersey is reporting that students at Hackettstown High School are now being released from their building, with some students driving their own cars, and the area appears to be safe.

Reports of a man carrying an assault rifle in the Hackettstown area led to a swift police response and the lockdown of every school within the town this morning, education and law enforcement officials said.

Centenary College was placed on lockdown around 10 this morning, after Hackettstown Police called the college and reported "a sighting of a man with a gun in the area," said Annamarie Lavalee, the school's director of public relations.

At 11:16 a.m., the school posted an update to its website warning students that officials were searching for a white male wearing blue jeans and a black sweatshirt with an assault rifle.

"Please be reminded the person could have hid the weapon," the post read. "NJSP Helicopter is in the area."

Related coverage:

• Hackettstown schools locked down following reports of area man with a rifle

