UPDATE: Chief Roessler Releases Statistics in School Community Threat Investigations

Since February 15, the day after the tragic deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, our officers have investigated 24 school related threats or complaints. These include a number of emails and phone calls from parents and community members expressing concerns about particular individuals who have made comments or sent disturbing messages via social media platforms. Of the 24 documented cases, there was only probable cause to obtain petitions in the case reported on February 17 (see news release below).

We have been documenting and tracking all threats against our schools since August 2017. Between August and December, our department investigated 28 separate incidents of threats against Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Those investigations resulted in five students being charged with a total of eight criminal offenses. Two additional cases resulted in temporary detention orders, meaning the students were detained for mental health treatment. In other cases, parents voluntarily sought mental health evaluations for their child. We continue to work closely with FCPS in our mission to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community at large.

We thank the community for continuing to report suspicious behaviors and alarming activity on social media platforms. If you would like to file a report, please contact our non-emergency line at 703-691-2131. For emergencies in progress, please call 9-1-1.

Please follow us on Twitter @fairfaxpolice and through our blog, http://www.fcpdnews.wordpress.com.

(Original release date: Today, February 28, 2018)

Petitions Served on Two Fairfax County Teens After School Shooting Threat on Social Media

Two Fairfax County teens are facing charges after an investigation revealed they were behind a social media threat regarding a possible shooting at Walt Whitman Middle School.

Detectives from our Criminal Intelligence Division (CID) served the teens, a 14 and 15-year-old from the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, with felony petitions yesterday morning. They have each been charged with one count of threats to commit serious bodily harm to persons on school property. Officers first learned of the threat on February 17 after a walk-in report at our Mount Vernon District Station. CID detectives were brought in to investigate. They searched social media accounts and other databases which led them to identify and charge the teens, who are not being named due to their ages. The suspects turned themselves in and were sent home with their parents after a detention hearing. They are under electronic monitoring. Detectives say the boys were trying to impress a girl and did not actually have the means to carry out this threat.

We continue to work closely with Fairfax County Public Schools in our mission to ensure the safety of students, staff and the community at large. We encourage parents to talk to their children about school shootings and the seriousness of these threats. In some recent investigations, it was determined that students were “just joking around.” It is important that everyone understands there is nothing funny about any reference to violence in or around our schools, “joke” or not. Such statements will not be tolerated and will be considered threats. We investigate and document every concern brought to our attention and will charge those responsible, even if they are under the age of 18. Juveniles can also face felony charges in these cases regardless of their age. If convicted, our department will seek restitution from the suspects or their guardians to cover the personnel costs associated with these investigations.

If you see or hear of something suspicious, please call our non-emergency line to file a report and have an officer look into it. If it’s an emergency in progress, please call 9-1-1.

Please follow us on Twitter @fairfaxpolice and through our blog, http://www.fcpdnews.wordpress.com.