New Information has been released about an online threat that shut down Montclair schools on Monday as students returned to classrooms on Tuesday.

The Montclair Police Department confirmed that threats allegedly made online by 45-year-old teacher Amir Doctry on Sunday were aimed at the Northeast Elementary School’s Principal Dr. Joseph Putrino.

Some students and parents anonymously spoke to News 12 about the incident.

"It’s just really a hard one because [Doctry] had a vision that seemed to be wonderful. I’m just very sad for everyone,” said one parent.

Threats allegedly posted on Doctry's social media read, "Joe must die school shooting Montclair school shooting kills Dr. Joe Racism Racist Joe is dead. He dies tonight." This was the post that led officials to close all schools in the district on Monday.

“I kind of lost all empathy for him because if you threaten to kill somebody, that’s a whole entirely different thing. I’m a bit confused and sad that this is how it turned out,” said an 11-year-old student.

Officials say Doctry worked for the Montclair school district from Sept. 5, 2017 to June 30, 2021 and most recently in September of 2024.

Doctry’s motive remains unclear, but according to a video posted to his YouTube channel, he was vying for the superintendent position. News 12 has been told this is open and there is an active search.

In the video, Doctry is seen at what looks like an embroidery shop. He has a varsity jacket in his hand and says to another man in the video, "I’m gonna come back and I’m gonna get superintendent. Once they make me superintendent, that is how confident I am that I’m going to be the new superintendent of Montclair Public Schools.”

News 12 spoke with Damen Cooper, the interim superintendent of Montclair Public Schools, about Doctry's claim of wanting to be superintendent.

"The position of full-time superintendent is open, but I cannot speak to that,” Cooper said.

According to police, Doctry was on administrative leave. School district officials would not comment on the reason, but a student who spoke to News 12 said Doctry began acting erratically recently.

"In the beginning, he was super sweet. He barely snapped, but then at the end, the start of January, he started presenting himself like being loud. He was playing music in the hallways where kindergarteners were, and I think some of it was not school-appropriate,” the student said.

Doctry was taken into custody Monday morning in Philadelphia. He’s being charged with making terroristic threats.