MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — An online threat disrupted classes at North Middle School and two neighboring schools in Martinsburg Tuesday. Police say there is no immediate threat to students and the superintendent of schools revealed a ten year old boy from Michigan may have been the culprit.
Berkeley County Schools informed the public of police presence earlier in the day after an online threat directed at a specific student had been reported.
The school system advised that parents had been notified and a police would be investigating and would be ‘present’ at the school. At the time of the original posting, students at North and nearby Opequon Elementary School and Eagle School Intermediate were placed on Code Orange and as a result, remained inside the building.
All three schools were under a Code Orange for at least two hours. North Middle School’s Code Orange lasted the rest of the day.
Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ron Stephens expressed his appreciation for the patience of family members as the investigation unfolded and said he was proud of the quick response of law enforcement.
Martinsburg Police Chief Erin Gibbons said law enforcement was dispatched and a “thorough investigation was launched” when they got the initial report of a social media threat targeting a NMS student.
Among those responding with MPD were task force members and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office as well as federal partners. Gibbons said a thorough search of the premises was conducted.
Police determined there was no active threat at the middle school.