While law enforcement in Augusta County considers the case closed on threats made to “shoot up” Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville, the incident remains on the minds of students in classrooms and hallways today.
“There are no new and no valid threats to any Augusta County school at this time,” according to a joint statement from Dr. Eric Bond, Augusta County Schools superintendent, and Donald Smith, Augusta County Sheriff, on social media this evening.
A 16-year-old Harrisonburg High School male student is being held for allegedly making threats to his high school and the Augusta County high school through Snapchat. The individual has been arrested, and criminal petitions are pending.
Despite the arrest late Monday evening, students appeared reluctant to immediately return to the classroom. One parent posted a photo of a first-period classroom with only two students present.
The ACSO reports that its investigation into the threats against WMHS has concluded.
Students were allegedly continuing to spread the message or use pieces of the threatening Snapchat post in their conversations at school today, according to the statement. School administrators acknowledge that the conversations are understandable as students continue to process the impact of the post on schools and the community and their individual fears about school safety.
However, in several Augusta County schools, the conversations were overheard and reported to the administration as potential new threats. The students who heard the conversations or rumors made reports to staff, as they have been encouraged to do.
Parents and families are asked to use this case to talk to their own children about the importance of their words, in person or online. Parents are encouraged to monitor, educate and counsel students about the impact of their comments.
“The ACSO and school administrators need parents to understand and explain that these threats have serious consequences,” the statement read. “We commend those individuals who reported the post and subsequent concerns of threatening comments.”
The Sheriff’s Office and school superintendent agreed they want students to “see something, say something” when they have concerns. Those responsible for making threatening statements are subject to the school disciplinary process as well as potential criminal charges by law enforcement.
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Crystal Graham
