WASHINGTON — Detectives are investigating a threatening social media post against two Virginia middle schools, one in Stafford County, and one in Spotsylvania County. A Stafford County Sheriff’s spokeswoman said the post included a picture of a handgun and a threat to shoot up or cause harm at T. Benton Gayle Middle School in Stafford County and Thornburg Middle School in Spotsylvania County. The Stafford County spokeswoman told WTOP that detectives from Stafford County are working with their counterparts in Spotsylvania County to get to the bottom of the threat. Lt. Charles Carey, with Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s office, said the “vague” threats were shared on “multiple social media platforms.” “There is no further info on those (threats) at this time. School will go on as normal, but with increased police presence,” said Carey. According to the Spotsylvania Schools calendar, classes are held on Presidents Day. It isn’t yet clear whether or not the social media threat will affect Thornburg Middle School on Monday. There’s no school for Stafford County Public School students on Monday due to the Presidents Day holiday. Stafford County Sheriff’s Office referred to the threat on Twitter.
The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office has been alerted to a social media post threatening T. Benton Gayle Middle School in Stafford County and Thornburg Middle School in Spotsylvania County. Stafford and Spotsylvania detectives are investigating.
— StaffordCoSheriff (@staffcosheriff) February 18, 2018
WTOP’s Liz Anderson contributed to this report.