Social Media Post Threatens Stafford, Spotsy Schools: Police

SPOTSYLVANIA, VA — Police detectives from Spotsylvania and Stafford counties have been working over the last few days to identify the origin of a social media post that threatened two local schools, according to media reports. The post included a picture of a handgun and a threat to shoot up or cause harm at T. Benton Gayle Middle School in Stafford and Thornburg Middle School in Spotsylvania, radio station WTOP reported.

The social media post surfaced on Saturday, according to Lt. Charles Carey, a spokesman for the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office. In a statement Monday night, Carey said that detectives and sheriff's deputies were searching for the post's creator and "have collectively interviewed numerous people who have either viewed [or] shared the post."

The threatening social media post comes in the wake of a mass school shooting last week at a high school in Florida. No further threats to local schools have been identified, Carey said.

The sheriff's offices in both counties will have extra deputies on hand at local schools over the next few days, Carey added.

Schools in Stafford were closed on Monday for the Presidents Day holiday, WTOP reported, while Spotsylvania schools were open, using Monday as a snow make-up date.

If you or your child has information about who may have originally created the social media post, please contact the Crime Solvers tip line at 540-582-5822 (you may remain anonymous).

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