The New Jersey teacher whose alleged threats forced the closure of a ritzy suburban school district earlier this week posted disturbing messages — including that the school’s principal should “DIE TONIGHT” and “There’s gonna be a war.”
Amir Doctry, a 45-year-old special education teacher, was picked up in Philadelphia on Monday morning after writing menacing texts and social media posts about Montclair elementary school Principal Joseph Putrino, NJ.com reported.
“MONTCLAIR SCHOOL SHOOTING KILLS DR. JOE. JOE IS DEAD. HE DIES TONIGHT,” Doctry allegedly wrote in the description box of a now-removed YouTube video.
State and federal authorities tracked Doctry — who was already on administrative leave — to Pennsylvania after the unhinged posts, and local cops arrested him at about 8 a.m.
Police charged him with two counts of third-degree terroristic threats, then put him in an involuntary psychiatric hold at a crisis center, the outlet said.
The Montclair school district closed Monday as a precaution but reopened the next day.
“We would like to reassure the public that there is no further danger to our community,” local cops said, adding they boosted patrols at district schools “out of an abundance of caution.”
Putrino had noticed other troubling behavior with Doctry as well — like last week, when local cops came to the school after the principal reported Doctry signed into his classroom despite being barred from it because of his leave, NJ.com said.
The irate teacher allegedly began sending Putrino profanity-laced text messages that included a bizarre claim that he’d become the principal’s boss and fire him.
He also sent Putrino texts with random emojis — including Jewish stars and menorahs — and called him a “dummy,” the outlet reported.
“Please like and subscribe! Love you Joe! Thanks for the job,” one text said.
The principal told the cops about Doctry’s weird behavior on Sunday — then discovered the YouTube channel where Doctry allegedly posted a photo of Denzel Washington holding a gun with the caption “ALL PARENTS IN MONTCLAIR.”
He also found references to a school shooting and remarks like, “Joe must die,” the newspaper said.
YouTube removed the video for violating its community guidelines.
But Doctry continued his strange behavior Monday, texting Putrino nonsense gibberish that included phrases like, “Die bitch” and “There’s gonna be a war,” cops said.
That was enough to alarm police — and shutter the schools in the town of about 40,000 a half-hour west of Manhattan.
“I understand that this last-minute closure may cause inconvenience, but the safety of our students, staff, and entire school community is our highest priority,” district superintendent Damen Cooper wrote in an email.
“Please know that every step taken was guided by our unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families.”
A childhood pal of the suspect told TAPinto Montclair that the incident was very unlike him.
“It is all so shocking,” the friend said.
