‘Dozens of West Virginia children’ detained from recent school threats

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — After a few weeks of seeing a “dramatic increase” in school threats , the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) addressed the trend in its weekly School Safety Update , confirming that “dozens” of students in West Virginia have been expelled and could face jail time.

In the video, Jonah Adkins, WVDE Director of School Safety, said that “hundreds of threats” were made across the state, affecting thousands of students. They included social media posts threatening violence and falsely reported emergencies from both within and outside the state boundary.

Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security Rob Cunningham said in the video that “dozens of West Virginia children who are involved in the recent threats have been detained.” He said that all of the students are being expelled from school and “may be charged with the penalty of incarceration.”

In north central West Virginia, officials have confirmed that students who made or falsely reported threats in Preston and Barbour counties, as well as nearby Braxton County , were detained.

Although not all, many of the threats were seen and shared on social media, which officials said caused even more panic in the affected communities.

“As well-intended people got involved on social media, they re-shared posts that were already resolved and often reignited panic among our schools and communities. So it is important not to not re-post school threats, but instead contact local law enforcement when concerns arise,” Cunningham said.

Possible threats to schools should be reported directly to law enforcement or through communications apps like the See Send app .

The WVDE recommends that parents talk to their children about the possible consequences of making threats as well as address mental health concerns and other struggles their children may be facing. Parents of students in West Virginia public schools can utilize free parent coaching, guidance and therapy online at ParentGuidance.org .

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