CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Multiple counties across the state have had their weeks shaken up with online threats to their schools.
On Wednesday, Kanawha and Cabell County each had a trio of schools see increased number of law enforcement on site in response to threats. The threats were made on social media towards Huntington High School, Huntington Middle School, and Huntington East Middle School, but were later deemed uncredible.
In a recorded phone call to parents, Cabell County Spokesperson Ashley Stephens said other schools are being impacted, and every threat is taken seriously.
“In addition to these three schools in Cabell County, several other schools and districts in our region and across the country have been impacted by similar online threats,” Stephens said. “We take all threats seriously, and work with local authorities to be sure that those responsible for threats of violence against our schools are held accountable.”
Capital High School, Carver Career Center, and Ben Franklin Career Center also had to bring in more law enforcement Wednesday morning in response to a threat that was circulating on Tuesday.
On a near opposite side of the state, Berkeley County is in the midst of a barrage of threats coming to the Eastern Panhandle region. Threats came from neighboring school districts Tuesday evening, as Fredrick County, Virginia closed down its schools for the entire day Wednesday.
Berkeley County Schools would later issue a statement saying the FBI has confirmed that Berkeley County Schools was not a target.
Martinsburg Police Chief Erin Gibbons says the threat came from out of state.
“In this one particular, I think it started out of Frederick, Maryland, however it bled over into our community,” Gibbons said.
Gibbons also says Martinsburg is aware of all of the incidents, but they want to take each threat into account.
“We’re not ignorant to the fact that this is happening, it happened last year, the year before, it happens every year,” Gibbons said. “We want to take every incident as its own, individual account.”
Gibbons says social media is how these threats spread so quickly.
“Social media is a huge factor that, one, how this information gets out, the timing of these threats when they do come out, and who’s sending these out and how we’re going to respond,” Gibbons said. “Of course, whenever one of these threats comes out, it doesn’t matter if it’s a month old, two months old, or it’s happening right now, we’re going to act appropriately and the same each time.”
In the statement released by Berkeley County, it read that the FBI and that the out-of-state students responsible for the series of threats have been arrested and charged with a felony.
FBI Pittsburgh also released a statement Wednesday, as they have been made aware of threats in West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. The statement reads:
“The FBI is aware of recent threats directed toward multiple school districts across Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. We remain in close coordination with our law enforcement partners to provide assistance where appropriate. That includes gathering intelligence, sharing information, tracking down leads, and working with partners to identify and mitigate threats quickly and effectively.
Issuing a threat of any kind promoting violence can be a violation of state and/or federal law. Those found responsible will be thoroughly investigated, and FBI Pittsburgh will immediately engage with our local, state, and federal partners to leverage the full extent of the law.
These threats disrupt school, waste resources, and put first responders and innocent people in unnecessary danger.
FBI Pittsburgh stands committed and ready to respond to any immediate threat involving any educational institution 24 hours a day. We encourage students, teachers, administrators, and parents to remain vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities that could represent a threat to 911, to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or online at tips.fbi.gov.”