HENRICO COUNTY, Va. -- An added police presence was visible outside Highland Springs High School Thursday morning. The police were posted outside the eastern Henrico school following a threat that was made over social media. Police spent Thursday morning sweeping school buses for evidence.
The threat, school officials said, was made verbally in school and then spread via social media.
"Late last night, it was brought to our attention that a concerning statement was made that was then being spread on social media," Highland Springs principal Pamela Bell wrote in an email to parents. "We have since begun an immediate plan of response and action, including collaboration with Henrico Police and Central Office personnel to properly address the situation and ensure the safety of our school community. As a result, we will have additional Henrico Police officers present on our campus today."
The school would remain on lockdown for the school day Thursday.
Images of the social media message sent to WTVR CBS 6 indicate the concerning statement was a school shooting threat. Neither police nor school officials have confirmed the content of the statement that prompted the police response.
The Highland Springs threat comes on the heels of two similar situations at other Henrico schools.
Added police protection was put in place at Godwin High School, in western Henrico, on Friday, October 2, when a student spotted a drawing of a gun, a date and a threat. On September 30 and again on October 1, two messages were discovered at Hungary Creek Middle School.
In those cases, Henrico Police spokesman Lt. Chris Eley said the threatening messages were left in restrooms at the schools.
Police asked anyone with information about these incidents to call Crime Solvers at 804-780-1000.
