Southampton Township Schools Place Campus Under Shelter-in-Place

Southampton Township School District officials placed their campus under a shelter-in-place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, following a series of incidents involving a neighboring resident, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.

The decision marked the second day of emergency precautions for the Burlington County schools. District leaders cited ongoing issues with a neighbor and multiple calls to the New Jersey State Police as the primary reasons for the lockdown.

“Our primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” the superintendent said in a statement to NBC10.

The neighbor at the center of the dispute, Mark Cozens, lives adjacent to the school campus. While federal law generally allows for the possession of firearms on private property that is not part of school grounds, New Jersey law prohibits possessing a firearm on school buildings or grounds without written authorization.

Police activity surrounding the property has escalated over the last month. Last month, New Jersey State Police arrested Cozens after authorities charged him with recklessly firing a gun on his property, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Although Cozens said that police subsequently removed his firearms, the tension between the resident and the school district has continued to mount.

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, court records showed that a warrant was issued for Cozens’ arrest on a charge of terroristic threats, which involves threatening to commit a crime of violence, NBC10 Philadelphia reported.

School leaders communicated with parents via email, noting that beginning last week, the neighbor had played loud music toward the school, sent “concerning emails,” and drove through the school parking lot while yelling at staff. Cozens confirmed he was the individual described in those reports but denied making any threats.

“I really applaud the school and the superintendent for making sure the kids had increased police presence,” said Christina Stevens, whose son attends the school.

Cozens has characterized the school district’s security measures as an overreaction. Speaking to NBC10 investigators last week, he maintained that his use of firearms was minimal and did not pose a danger to the community.

“I only shoot for about five minutes,” Cozens told the NBC10 investigators. “I shot there. They ended up locking the poor kids down. A state trooper comes in my yard.”

On Wednesday, Cozens told investigators that he is no longer in New Jersey and denied taking any actions that would make others feel they were in danger.

The situation has moved beyond immediate police patrols and toward legislative discussion. The ongoing incidents have prompted a proposal for a new township ordinance that would implement additional restrictions on discharging firearms near school zones.

“We are hopeful that this matter will reach a resolution soon, and we will continue to communicate with our school community as the situation develops,” the superintendent said.