CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WTVR) -- Chesterfield school officials said police have finished their investigation into a strange message that was found written near a tunnel in the Hampton Park neighborhood where a Cosby High School student named Cal Reilly killed himself last year.
That message said "Justice for Cal starts 5/1/14."
Chesterfield County Public Schools Spokesperson Shawn Smith said that the person responsible has been identified, and that it was part of a public awareness campaign, not a threat.
Smith said the following statement was sent home to parents Wednesday.
"Chesterfield County police informed us today that they have closed their investigation into a vague posting found this weekend in Hampton Park. The person responsible for the posting has been identified and has admitted to posting as part of a public awareness campaign.
The posting did not refer to Cosby High School or any other Chesterfield County school, and police have determined there is no credible threat against our school or students. We appreciate the confidence you have in our staff to provide your children with a safe, supportive and nurturing learning environment and look forward to welcoming them to school as normal on Thursday."
CBS 6 spoke with the woman who says she wrote the “Justice For Cal” messages.
The individual did not want to be identified because of fear of a backlash, but the person did want to be known as someone who “loves Cal.”
“My message was “Justice For Cal,” which is taking something that was wrong and setting it right.”
She said the messages were not meant to be threatening.
“It’s not about hurting people or bombs or guns or people being afraid to go to school.”
Instead, they were supposed to generate publicity for a t-shirt campaign intended to raise money for suicide prevention.
“I had been told of a marketing plan similar to this that somebody did many years ago.”
The individual said that message should not deter Cosby High School students from going to school.
“I know they do not need to be scared of me.”
However, she did tell CBS 6 that others have perverted the message, and she cannot speak for them.
“I hope no one will piggy back off of my good cause and make it a bad day.”
For that reason, current Cosby senior Chandler Hill said he is still not sure if he will show up for school on Thursday.
“Odds are it might be a normal school day, but it’s just the feeling that something could happen that’s really sketchy,” Hill said.
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