Updates:
Statement from Morgan County Sheriff KC Bohrer and Morgan County Schools: ” Our investigation concluded that the student had taken a screenshot of a threat posted by a student in a neighboring state. Unfortunately, there have been a series of social media threats throughout the region and country the past 2-3 days. Social media threats occur frequently and law enforcement is actively investigating each and every threat reported and providing us with ongoing updates. We take the safety of our students and staff as our top priority. There is no reason to believe that any school in our area is in danger and students should feel safe attending school tomorrow (Thursday).”
Berkeley County Schools issued a statement Wednesday saying the FBI has confirmed that Berkeley County Schools was never a target and that the out-of-state students responsible for the series of threats have been arrested and charged with a felony.
Frederick County, VA Schools announced school would be back in session on Thursday. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority at Frederick County Public Schools. As you know, we made the difficult decision to close schools on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, due to safety concerns identified in collaboration with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO). Since these incidents have been resolved, we plan to open all of our schools safely tomorrow, Thursday, September 12, 2024, on time.”
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — School officials in and near the Eastern Panhandle have been responding to a number of social media threats directed toward specific schools and students in general in the first few weeks of the new school year.
MPD Chief Gibbons (City of Martinsburg)
Frederick County Schools in Virginia announced that schools there were closed for the day Wednesday as they worked with law enforcement to investigate an ongoing threat.
Just across the border in Morgan County, there was an increased police presence as school officials there announced they had been investigating a threat via social media Tuesday evening,
Morgan County Schools revealed the student who made threat had been identified and detained by law local enforcement.
“Morgan County Schools were made aware of a threat made via social media to Warm Springs Middle School and Warm Springs Intermediate School. We immediately began working with our law enforcement partners to establish the credibility of this threat and take all necessary precautions.”
In Berkeley County, some parents said they were keeping their students home after a threat began circulating online. Martinsburg Police Chief Erin Gibbons they take threats seriously:
In this case, Chief Gibbons said he believed that post was an old one that had resurfaced:
Berkeley County Schools, in a statement to parents said the following:
Last night we became aware of a series of social media threats circulating throughout several neighboring school districts. There is no reason to believe that any school in our area is in danger and students should feel safe attending school today.
Law enforcement is actively investigating each and every threat reported and providing us with frequent updates. We take the safety of our students and staff as our top priority and will provide more information if and when it is made available.
An increase of law enforcement will be present throughout the day as they work through these serious allegations to find where they originated.
The incidents follow on the heals of a threat investigated in Morgan County Monday.
By Wednesday, Morgan County Sheriff KC Bohrer and the Morgan County School system issued a statement saying,
“Upon further investigation, law enforcement has concluded that the Morgan County student’s threat on social media (on 9/10/2024) has been deemed not credible. Our investigation concluded that the student had taken a screenshot of a threat posted by a student in a neighboring state. Unfortunately, there have been a series of social media threats throughout the region and country the past 2-3 days. Social media threats occur frequently and law enforcement is actively investigating each and every threat reported and providing us with ongoing updates. We take the safety of our students and staff as our top priority. There is no reason to believe that any school in our area is in danger and students should feel safe attending school tomorrow (Thursday).”
On Wednesday afternoon, Berkeley County Schools issued the following statement regarding social media threats being circulated this week:
We are writing to follow-up on this morning’s message regarding social media threats circulating in our community. The FBI has confirmed that Berkeley County Schools was never a target and that the out-of-state students responsible for the series of threats have been arrested and charged with a felony.
We recognize that these types of situations can create significant concern, panic, and uncertainty for our students, families, and staff. Please know that the safety and well-being of our school community is always our top priority. Be reassured that we take every threat seriously and as credible information is available, we share updates with you in a timely manner.
In light of recent concerns regarding student safety, we understand the difficult decisions you face when determining whether or not to send your child to school. Each family’s circumstances are unique, and it is important to assess any potential threats or risks to your child’s safety in order to make the best decision for your family.
We encourage you to stay informed about current events, school policies, and the safety measures we have in place, while considering your child’s needs and well-being. Ultimately, the decision should be a personal one, made with careful consideration of what is best for your child’s security and peace of mind.
As always, we appreciate your support and encourage you to remind your student to make good, positive behavioral choices and that inappropriate actions or threats come with consequences.
In closing, we extend a sincere thank you to the law enforcement officers, both within and outside our schools, for their prompt response and ongoing communication. Our strong partnership with law enforcement is vital to our shared commitment to keeping our schools safe and secure. Together, we remain united in protecting our students and community.
