By: Richard L. Smith
In Franklin Township, concerned parents, staff, and local residents are grappling with the implications of a deeply unsettling discovery: a second loaded firearm found on the grounds of Rutgers Preparatory School weeks after an intruder was apprehended.
The discovery, made on Tuesday by maintenance staff during routine landscaping, has stirred up serious questions about school safety and the intentions of the intruder involved in the October incident.
The suspect, Quincy K. Clark, 49, of Burlington Township, was initially apprehended on October 15 with a high-capacity ammunition magazine and additional weapons found nearby.
Clark has since been charged with several serious offenses, including possession of a firearm on school grounds, possession of hollow-point bullets, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
However, Tuesday's discovery of a second loaded handgun, buried near the initial arrest site, has prompted fresh concerns and speculation about Clark’s motives and potential plans.
Rutgers Prep School Head Steve Loy communicated the latest discovery to parents in a letter that struck a somber tone.
“This afternoon, as part of our annual fall trimming and pruning of plants and bushes, our maintenance staff unearthed a handgun that was deeply submerged in the area where the October 15th intruder was apprehended,” Loy wrote.
"From the time the weapon was discovered, the area was secured under the direct surveillance of our security officer. When the local police arrived, they took custody of the gun, which they discovered was loaded."
Though Loy assured families that the Franklin Township Police Department had declared the campus safe to continue operating normally, questions linger.
How did the weapon evade the initial investigation’s radar? Why was it hidden in such a deliberate manner? And most pressing of all, what were Clark's intentions on school grounds that day?
The October incident has cast a long shadow over Rutgers Prep, igniting debates on safety protocols and how Clark managed to infiltrate the campus.
Following his arrest, police found him emerging from bushes with his hands in his pockets. A subsequent search revealed the high-capacity ammunition magazine, while a loaded firearm equipped with hollow-point bullets was hidden nearby.
Authorities later searched Clark's vehicle and discovered over half an ounce of suspected cocaine and additional ammunition, leading to multiple charges against him.
The school was closed for a thorough search in October, but some parents are now asking if the search truly was exhaustive.
Could other weapons or dangerous items still be hidden?
Loy acknowledged parents' unease in his letter, stating, “We realize that finding this weapon weeks after the campus was closed for a full police investigation is unsettling.” The question remains: how was this weapon missed, and could it signify a broader risk?
As authorities continue their investigation, Rutgers Prep has committed to reinforcing campus security measures.
Loy informed parents of plans to introduce individual access cards for Middle and Upper School students, bolster security staff with new hires, and seek approval for perimeter fencing and vehicle barriers.
“Please understand that we take this matter seriously,” Loy emphasized. “We are in the process of implementing heightened security protocols.”
The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, alongside detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, remains actively involved in the investigation.
The community now waits for answers to fundamental questions:
Why did Clark choose Rutgers Prep? Does he have any connections to the school? And what could have been the outcome had he or these weapons not been discovered?
As residents, families, and staff look for reassurance, they also find themselves wondering if the potential for tragedy truly has been averted or if deeper concerns still lie just beneath the surface.