Frederick County schools in Virginia closed due to social media threats

FREDERICK COUNTY, Va. ( DC News Now ) — On Wednesday, Sept. 11, all schools in Frederick County, Va., are closed as law enforcement investigates an ongoing threat.

Frederick County Public Schools announced the closure on Tuesday night, stating that all schools, the school division’s administrative offices and school offices would be closed “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Frederick County Virginia Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) said that threats of possible school-related violence were circulating on social media on Tuesday evening, raising concerns of students, parents and school personnel.

Preliminary indications show that the posts may have originated outside of the Commonwealth.

“This would include other jurisdictions and school systems across the country with no direct threat being leveled at any particular Frederick County Public School,” said the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement is working with the school district to determine the credibility of the posts.

Apart from the online threats, FCSO said it is investigating an earlier “incident” that was reported, although it did not occur on school property.

These threats follow the deadly shooting that killed four people at Apalachee High School in Georgia, as well as a shooting in a bathroom at Joppatowne High School in Maryland that killed a 15-year-old boy last week .

The school system said the closures will allow the administration to work with law enforcement to open schools safely on Thursday, Sept. 12.

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