School Safety Remains 'Highest Priority' In Falls Church After Texas Shooting

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The number of children killed in a school shooting Tuesday at a Texas elementary school has risen to at least 19. Two adults also were killed at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

Peter Noonan, superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools, said in a statement late Tuesday that the killings at the elementary school in Texas are “the latest horrifying example of violence in our country.”

“As a fellow school division, we offer our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones in Uvalde, Texas, and our support to those who are re-traumatized from past experiences from other, all-too-frequent and horrific, acts of violence,” Noonan said.

The safety of Falls Church schools, and the students and staff within them, “remains our highest priority,” Noonan said.

“Please be assured that we will continue to assess our processes and procedures to ensure the safest learning and working environment possible,” he said.

About three weeks ago, students and staff at Falls Church's secondary school campus received a scare when both Meridian High School and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School were placed on lockdown. Students and staff remained in their classrooms until the police finished their sweep and gave the all-clear.

The city school system reviewed video and concluded that a parent volunteer unknowingly picked up an "alarm" badge from a desk. The use of the badge caused the building to be placed in automatic lockdown.

FCCPS initially thought the badge that set off the alarm was handed to a parent volunteer by a staff member. The school system said it is securing all alarm badges and reviewing badge protocols in its schools to avoid any future accidental lockdowns.

In response to the Texas school mass shooting, students in Falls Church City Public Schools can reach out to school counselors if they additional support, Noonan said.

The superintendent also called on parents who have weapons at home to store them properly and lock them up.

Falls Church City Public Schools has provided a list of mental health resources in the community:

• CrisisLink Regional Hotline: 703-527-4077 CrisisText: Text HOME to 741741
• Mobile Crisis Unit: 703-573-5679
• Merrifield Center Emergency Services: 703-573-5679
• National Hope Line: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
• LGBTQ Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
• SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)

RELATED: Texas School Shooting: 19 Children Killed In Uvalde