Student: When will things get "back to normal." Some bathrooms are off limits and more officers are at schools.#WTOP pic.twitter.com/xufARCGRER
— Mike Murillo (@MikeMurilloWTOP) January 19, 2016
WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Parents and students in Prince William County gathered at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Woodbridge Monday night to express their concerns about student safety after several threats were made involving county schools.
Five threatening messages have been written on the walls of Woodbridge, Forrest Park and Gar-Field high schools this year. Two others were posted to social media.
Prince William County police believe none of the threats are credible but they are being investigated.
The two posts on social media have been solved, and on Friday resulted in the arrest one juvenile in connection to one of the posts. The young person remains in police custody and faces felony and misdemeanor charges.
Lt. David Burghart with Prince William County police said they have also located the juvenile behind a second threatening post, but that person is located west of the Mississippi River.
“The kids want to know more, and we as parents want to know more,” said parent Susie Quinn, of Woodbridge.
School leaders and law enforcement updated parents on the investigation at Monday’s meeting, and aimed to reassure them that a lot is being done to keep their children safe.
“What was wonderful about the evening is that people got the facts and the facts are usually the best relief to any type of panic situation,” said Phil Kavits, spokesman for Prince William County Schools.
So far, the search continues for those responsible for the messages scribbled on the bathroom walls, but Burghart said the investigation has been difficult because no witnesses have come forward.
“Where they’re written is in a place, that’s in a private place,” said Burghart.
Investigators believe it is very likely that they are looking for separate suspects at each of the three schools.
“My son is worried about going to school and it’s just threat after threat,” said Inez Jones, of Woodbridge, whose son attends Woodbridge High School.
Since the threats, more officers — many in plain clothes — have been placed at the schools where the messages have appeared.
Police also encouraged parents to help them by speaking with their kids about the situation. The hope of investigators is that other students know those responsible and that they might tell parents who it is before they tell a teacher or the police.
