Ocean County Teen Indicted In School Shooting Threat

PLUMSTED – A 19-year-old has been indicted following his June arrest for allegedly threatening to open fire at his high school graduation.

Matthew Vladimir Vanderbeek, 19, of Cream Ridge, was indicted on Aug. 1 for the following charges: Terrorism, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and Attempted Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose.

On June 19, Detective Brant Uricks from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Major Crimes Unit and Detective Anthony Ringle from Plumsted Police investigated reports of a threat on social media by a New Egypt High School student to shoot students and staff at the school’s graduation ceremony, police said in a press release.

A search warrant was used to check his Hyacinth Court home, phone and computer. Investigators learned that he was attempting to obtain a firearm.

The charge of Terrorism stems from the threats made on social media. The weapons charges comes from a compound bow in his possession. The Attempted Possession of a Firearm charge is in regards to a handgun he tried to acquire on or about June 2.