Rumored School Violence TikTok Trend Monitored In Stafford County On Dec. 17: Police

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — There is no active or credible threat to schools in Stafford County on Friday, the sheriff's office said. However, the sheriff's office noted that they are aware of a national TikTok trend threatening violence at schools on Friday, Dec. 17.

Students, teachers, and parents may notice an increased police presence at schools on Friday, the sheriff's office said. Authorities noted that they are closely monitoring the situation.

The sheriff's office's primary recommendation emphasized safe online habits. Parents should be aware of their child's social media activities, authorities said. Parents and students should avoid sharing any posts on social media that refer to safety threats, according to the sheriff's office.

Read more: TikTok December 17 Challenge Has Police, Schools On High Alert

Friday's TikTok trend is just the latest threat that has derailed local school systems. This week, a Spotsylvania County High School was disrupted by a shooting threat. Over the span of 24 hours, Chancellor Highs School's fire alarm was pulled three different times, police said.

This month, a shooting threat at Stafford Senior High School led to a lockdown. While authorities were responding to the first threat, two more threats were reported. Each threat was deemed not credible, the sheriff's office said.

Read more: Lockdown At Stafford Senior High School For Gun Threat: Police

A similar threat was reported at Gayle Middle School in Stafford on Dec. 6. Police said that a student posted a photo of a gun on social media with the caption "Don't come to school tomorrow." Authorities later determined that the photo of the firearm was pulled from the internet, and the student did not have access to a gun.

"We encourage parents to talk with their children about the seriousness of social media posts like this," the sheriff's office said. "Parents should monitor the internet activity of their children and report any suspicious or threatening activity to law enforcement."

Read more: Social Media Threat Reported At Gayle Middle School In Stafford

More tips and resource about online safety for children are available on the National Cybersecurity Alliance's website.

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