CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. — Additional police officers were on hand for school Tuesday at Jefferson High after a reported possible verbal threat.
Officials with Jefferson County Schools said they received information on the threat after school hours. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and interviewed witnesses. Within two hours of the report, the individuals allegedly involved were located by law enforcement.
“While the potential threat has been addressed, we understand that parents, students, and staff may still have concerns regarding safety at the school. Sheriff’s deputies will continue to monitor social media and provide an appropriate presence at JHS today to let students and staff know they are prepared to respond appropriately.
We recognize that child safety is paramount. What may not be as clearly recognized is the significant time and resources devoted to prevention and intervention.”
-Jefferson County Schools statement
In Berkeley County, an unrelated threat made on social media was also investigated Monday night. An alert from the school system confirmed the investigation involved Martinsburg North Middle School.
“At this time, the investigation continues and law enforcement does not believe this to be a credible threat. For the safety of students and staff, there will be an increased police presence at North Middle School (Tuesday) morning. We thank our local authorities for their ongoing assistance.”
-Berkeley County Schools statement
Updates on the Berkeley County case will be available when law enforcement provides the school system with more information, according to the statement.