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Police investigate ‘rumors’ of bomb threats at Cosby High

Posted at 5:27 PM, Apr 29, 2014
and last updated 2014-04-29 17:33:01-04

CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WTVR)– An update after a cryptic message was found at the site where a Cosby High School student took his own life last year.

Chesterfield Police said they are investigating rumors of bomb threats or other acts alleged to occur on May 1 at Cosby High School.

The message  was left at the spot where McAllister “Cal” Reilly, a 17-year-old graduating senior at Cosby High school, hung himself in a concrete tunnel under a roadway in the sprawling Hampton Park community in far western Chesterfield on June 2, 2013.

JUSTICE FOR CALThe message read “JUSTICE FOR CAL STARTS 5/1/14, and it was also allegedly spray-painted on a stop sign.

“It’s a major topic right now,” high school student Kellen Hardcastle told CBS 6 on Monday, and he added that he had heard a lot of different things about what the message meant.

“It all really depends on the person who tells you,” Hardcastle said. 

“These rumors are currently being circulated on social media. Police have not found any information to substantiate the rumors,” Major Kevin Smith said in a press release.

“Police will continue to investigate any information that becomes available.”

On Monday Chesterfield County School spokesman Shawn Smith sent CBS 6 a copy of an email shared with Cosby High School students, that referenced the graffiti.

Parents and students expressed concern, although the statement itself never referenced Cosby High School and no direct threat was made against the school or student.

“Police have spoken with several neighborhood resident today, and through those conversations have identified an adult who may have written this note,” the school statement said.“Police remain on school property continuing to investigate and will be here as long as needed.”

mememorial

“It’s not the first time this bridge has been in the spotlight.

For days, 30 or more of Cal’s friends added spray-painted messages to an impromptu memorial in and around the tunnel.

Over the days, the brightly colored memories and messages grew until it became “Cal’s Tunnel.”

The spray painting controversy was discussed during the Hampton Park Homeowner’s Association board meeting in June 2013. Board members listened to concerns from homeowners and parents of distraught teens.

The board hired a contractor to paint over the tunnel.  Three adults and a group of juveniles were charged with felonies over the painting that were later nolle prossed.