Mass Shooting Threat In Stafford County Is Not Credible, Police Say

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A social media post threatened a mass shooting in Stafford County, police said on Friday. Authorities believe the threat was not credible and was a swatting attempt.

Swatting is a phenomenon that originated among online gamers. It involves falsely reporting a serious or violent crime in an effort to draw a large police response against an unsuspecting person or facility.

"The Stafford Sheriff’s Office is working with our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify the person or persons responsible," the sheriff's office said on Friday. "We are in contact with Stafford County Public Schools to ensure the safety of our students and staff."

In their statement, authorities did not say what facility was mentioned in the threat.

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