The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has determined there is no credible threat to schools, students or staff, according to a text sent to parents and an update sent to media.
Schools are handling this as “a personnel matter,” and the ASCO will review the case with the office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney to see if charges are appropriate.
According to comments on social media, many parents picked their children up from FDHS due to the threat. A parent also said the suspect is a bus driver.
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office has deployed additional deputies to Fort Defiance High School after a call about a possible organized attack.
An investigation is under way to determine the source and credibility of the chatter around the threat.
The additional law enforcement units sent to the FDHS campus are “out of an abundance of caution,” according to the ACSO.
“We want to assure the community that our deputies are on scene and monitoring the situation. At this time, there is no confirmed threat to students, staff or the public,” a statement read.
A 9/11 remembrance ceremony is taking place at Clymore Elementary School today and includes the participation of police, fire and rescue and military members from the community. The ACSO said the presence of first responders in the area is expected as part of the planned event.
“The safety of our students and community remains our highest priority,” the statement read.
No additional statement has been received from Augusta County Public Schools or Fort Defiance High School. Both shared the ACSO statement on their social media accounts.
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The threats come one day after a 16-year-old male student opened fire at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, Colorado. The shooter injured two students; one victim remains in critical condition, the other was discharged overnight. The shooter appears to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to multiple reports.
Also, on Wednesday, Charlie Kirk, a MAGA podcaster, was shot and killed on the campus of Utah Valley University. The shooter in that incident remains at-large; authorities said the suspect is a male and appears to be “of college age.” Kirk was speaking to approximately 3,000 students on a stage in an open quad; the shooter likely set up on the roof of a nearby building, according to multiple reports. Kirk was scheduled to speak at Virginia Tech later this month.
It also comes on the 24th anniversary of the deadly 9/11 terrorist attack in the U.S. that killed nearly 3,000 people.
One year ago, on Aug. 30, a bomb threat was made at FDHS, and a student was taken into custody following an investigation. Another student was arrested the same day for threatening to “shoot up” an Augusta County school.
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Crystal Graham
