Snapchat Threat To Loudoun Schools Is Hoax: Police

ASHBURN, VA — A threat appearing on social media Tuesday night of shootings at schools in the Ashburn area has been determined to be a hoax, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday. Sheriff's detectives tracked down the students who shared the Snapchat post, which "was determined to be non-credible and there was no threat to any Loudoun County Public School," the sheriff's office said.

The rumors and speculation on social media were fueled in part by the 18th anniversary on Wednesday of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks at the Pentagon, New York City and Pennsylvania, the sheriff's office said.

On Tuesday evening, several students began sharing a screenshot of a Snapchat post that reported "third-party information of a threat of a shooting towards schools in the Ashburn area," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

The screenshot did not indicate who made the initial Snapchat post. As it was shared on social media throughout the evening, new schools were added to the screenshot as part of the threat.

The screenshot caught the attention of sheriff's detectives, who contacted several students who had shared the post. Following up on tips from the community, they tracked down the student who originally posted the comments.

The sheriff's office did not identify the student, but it said the student heard about the threat from other students based on a previously rumored threat at Broad Run High School in Ashburn. The original screenshot claimed there were threats by unnamed individuals who planned a shooting at Broad Run on Wednesday or on Friday, Sept. 13.

"That threat was determined to be non-credible earlier this week," the sheriff's office said.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is asking parents and students to refrain from posting rumors or speculation on social media. If you receive or hear of information of a potential safety concern or threat to your school, call 911 or tell a teacher, school administrator or an adult you trust.