Threats At Fred Lynn, Potomac Shores Middle Schools Elicit Increased Security On Monday

WOODBRIDGE, VA — More threats were reported at Prince William County Schools on Sunday and Monday. Though authorities determined that the treats were not credible, there will still be an increased security presence at Fred Lynn Middle School and Potomac Shores Middle School on Monday.

The threats to the two Woodbridge-area middle schools were reported to the Prince William County Police Department, school officials said. Police were able to identify the source of the threat to Potomac Shores Middle School and noted that it was a hoax, according to an email sent to parents and families. Fred Lynn Middle School said threats to their campus were not substantiated, the school's principal noted in an email.

In their emails to parents, both principals noted the seriousness of these kinds of threats. At Potomac Shores Middle School, Principal Joseph Murgo said the student involved in Monday's threat would be disciplined according to the school system's code of behavior. He did not note whether legal action would be taken as well.

Over the last several weeks, the region has seen a rash of threats at schools. On Friday, Manassas Park Schools pivoted to asynchronous virtual learning after school officials learned of a threat posted to social media. The student accused of posting the threat, a 15-year-old boy who is a sophomore at Manassas Park High School, was charged with one count of threats to kill, police said.

Read more: Student Accused Of Threatening Manassas Park Schools

On Wednesday, authorities in Stafford County responded to a number of threats directed towards Stafford Senior High School. The school was placed on lockdown on Wednesday afternoon after someone reported that a student possessed a gun. The threat was unfounded, police said.

Earlier this week, an 18-year-old man from Fairfax County was arrested and charged with threatening Farmwell Station Middle School in Ashburn. Herndon Middle School in Fairfax was also the subject of an online threat earlier this week.

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