Central Virginia School Districts impacted by threats of violence

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Central Virginia School Districts have not been in session for a month yet. Already, there have been threats of violence. Some of the threats have been made almost daily.

WRIC 8 News reported that several school districts in Central Virginia had been impacted by reported threats of violence over five school days from Friday, September 6 through Friday, September 13.

How the schools were impacted

• Four of the threats were made by middle school students.
• Three of the threats were in Chesterfield County Schools.
• One threat involved a Richmond City Public school.
• One threat involved a Greensville County school.
• Two of the schools closed.
• One school was on Lock and Teach during the investigation.
• One threat involved a bomb.
• One treat involved a firearm.
• All five threats were investigated.
• None of the threats were carried out.
• One Chesterfield student was charged with a felony.

September 6

On Friday, September 6, Manchester Middle School in Chesterfield County was closed after a threat to “shoot up” the school was posted in an online chat.

September 9

On Monday, September 9, a 14-year-old boy who attends Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield texted an adult saying he had made a bomb. He sent the adult a photo of what appeared to be a bomb, then added that the device was fake. The adult contacted school officials, who then contacted the police.

September 10

On Tuesday, September 10, the Chesterfield County Police Department received reports of social media posts threatening a shooting at “Salem” the following day. A 13-year-old student at Salem Church Middle School in Chesterfield was charged with a felony after police said he posted on social media threatening a shooting at the school.

September 11

At 8:53 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, Richmond Public Schools notified officers of a possible threat to River City Middle School. A bus driver “relayed a concern that a student may have had a firearm.”

The school was searched out of an abundance of caution. During the investigation, the school was placed under a Lock and Teach. No weapons were found.

September 13

On Friday, September 13, Greensville County Public Schools closed after school district officials were notified of a threat posted on social media that referenced schools in Greensville.