Social Media Threat Reported At Gayle Middle School In Stafford

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A threat to Gayle Middle School was posted to Snapchat on Monday, the Stafford County Sheriff's Office said. Police have identified the person who posted the threat as a student at the middle school.

The sheriff's office learned of the threat around 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning, authorities said in a report. The threat, which had been posted the previous day, included a photo of a gun and the text "Do not come to school tomorrow."

News of the post spread quickly through the school community, the sheriff's office said. Some parents even chose to keep their students home from school.

On Tuesday, a Stafford County deputy and Gayle Middle School staff members identified the person who posted the threat, the sheriff's office said. They determined that the student did not have access to a firearm, and the picture included in the threat was pulled from the internet.

The sheriff's office said the school would be handling discipline for the student. No criminal charges were announced.

"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."

The National Cybersecurity Alliance offers several tips and resources to help parents teach their children about digital responsibility. They recommend parents stay engaged with their children's online activities, and help kids learn about the implications and consequences for certain actions.

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

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