Charlottesville City Schools were on a modified lockdown Wednesday after the FBI notified the Charlottesville Police Department of a social media threat. Police officers were posted at all of the city’s schools and some private schools during the day.
The University community received an email from Patrick Hogan, the University’s executive vice president and chief operating office, alerting them of the situation Wednesday afternoon.
“The University of Virginia has been closely monitoring this situation throughout the day and has been in touch with its law enforcement partners,” the email read. “There is no indication that this threat involves the University community or any of its facilities.”
The FBI identified the source of the threat later in the day and confirmed the situation had been resolved.
After becoming aware of the threat, Charlottesville Police made the decision to put the city schools on a modified lockdown and the schools issued a notice to parents Wednesday morning.
Beth Cheuk, community relations liaison for the city schools, sent the initial communication to parents, explaining the situation and modified lockdown. According to the notice, students were to remain indoors when possible and have adult or police supervision when they needed to go outside. Recess and gym classes were also held indoors.
“We are taking these precautionary measures at the request of Charlottesville City Police, who are monitoring an internet comment,” the notice read.
The Charlottesville Police Department issued a press release Wednesday, describing the threat as a post on a social media message board expressing discontent with recent events in Charlottesville.
“The person(s) who posted the message also referenced the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas and expressed their admiration of the shooter,” the release read. “They went on to say that Charlottesville, in particular schools within the city, should be the next target.”
The CPD said Wednesday evening stating the FBI identified the source of the comment in another state. According a release, the FBI believed there was no further threat to the community or schools.
CPD officers remained stationed at city schools Thursday to ensure students, parents and staff were safe.
Charlottesville School Board Chair Juandiego Wade said the schools sent out a number of notices to parents throughout the day as more information was gathered.
“We just have to keep an open dialogue, open communication,” Wade said. “As soon as we get information and we feel like we can disseminate that information, we do it … We had parents calling constantly throughout the day, so as soon as we get out that information it saves us time and allows us to focus on regular work and the additional work caused by this — but more importantly, the parents will know what’s going on.”
Wade said the schools would not take the chance of sending the students to school under any situation — from a threat like this to inclement weather — unless they were completely sure students were safe.
“We educate students, but our number one priority is their safety because it’s a big responsibility and we take it seriously.” Wade said.
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