Evacuation, searches as social media threats target Warren County Public Schools

Skyline High School /Courtesy image.

FRONT ROYAL – One day after students around the nation rallied to demand legislative action on gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Florida high school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead, Warren County Public Schools dealt with a series of reports of social media threats to system schools.  Shortly before 1 p.m., Thursday, February 22, Schools Superintendent Greg Drescher summarized the status of those reports.

Drescher confirmed that Warren County Middle School had been evacuated around 9 a.m. after it was determined a bomb threat posted against that school should be taken seriously.  Students at that school were bused to Warren County High School.  After the middle school was swept with bomb sniffing dogs and other law enforcement, it was cleared.  Students were returned to the middle school by 12:30 p.m.

Initial reports of online threats to a county public school began coming in late Wednesday evening, Drescher said.  Those reports were cited as being observed on SNAP chat and/or Facebook and were aimed at “SHS”.  While Skyline High School was not specifically mentioned, the school system and county law enforcement decided to beef up security Thursday morning as students and staff were arriving.  Drescher reported that Front Royal Police assisted the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with perimeter security, during which backpacks, vehicles and personal searches occurred.

Considering the logistics involved, Drescher reported the precautionary security went off efficiently with Skyline High fully operational for the school day by 8:20 a.m., just 20 minutes after its scheduled starting time.

Other social media reports of threats aimed at Warren County High School and Skyline Middle School were determined not to pose actual threats, Drescher said.

A press release on the situation was being prepared, Drescher said, but would not be released till later in the afternoon to assure that no additional developments surfaced over the course of the remainder of the school day.

According to a subsequent press release from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, a student identified with a verbal reference to a bomb at the middle school was identified, interviewed by school resource officers and released to the custody of their parents.Any person with information pertaining to these incidents is asked to call WCSO Sgt. Daniel Maxfield at (540) 635-7100 or (540) 635-4128.

In addition to the Front Royal Police and Warren County Fire and Rescue, assisting the Warren County Sheriff’s Office with K-9 and bomb technician units were the Virginia State Police, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, Manassas Park Police Department, Prince William Police Department.