CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — The Chesterfield County Police Department (CCPD) said they have arrested a 13-year-old student for allegedly posting online threats towards a Chesterfield County Public School.
Police said on Tuesday, Sept. 10, they received reports of a social media post threatening a shooting at "salem." They also received additional reports of more social media comments threatening "violence."
Through their investigation, they identified a student at Salem Church Middle School as the person behind the posts.
"I think this is a perfect case where it goes to show you how serious it is," Lt. Matt Dunn with Chesterfield Police's Violent Crimes Unit said. "Moving forward, we're going to investigate them all."
Dunn said once investigators identified the boy, they went to where he lived and determined the student did not have weapons to carry out the threat.
"And then conducted an interview of our suspect, at which point during the interview he confessed that he had made the post," Dunn said.
Dunn said the boy's parents were cooperative with police and shocked at what he allegedly did as they said they monitored his social media activity.
"It goes to show you that a lot of things can take place underneath the parents and parents not being aware," Dunn said.
Police said they requested and received a juvenile petition for a Class 6 felony, threats of death or bodily injury to persons on school property. That charge carries up to five years in prison.
WATCH: Hanover County says 'there is no credible threat' after some schools seen on viral TikTok 'hit list'
However, Dunn said because the boy is a juvenile the court system may take a less punitive approach if found guilty.
"Where they tried to refrain from jail time and maybe focus on working with the juvenile as such to prevent them from being in the court system," Dunn said.
Chesterfield Police said another student was charged for threats made against Cosby High School in early August under the same state code but faces a class one misdemeanor.
Police said they have sought 15 juvenile criminal complaints for some form of the same state code in 2024.
The Salem case is just the latest in a slew of school threats that have plagued Virginia since last week's deadly high school shooting in Georgia.
This included threats against Dogwood Middle School in Richmond on Thursday, which drew increased police presence on Friday.
Chesterfield Schools sent an email Friday warning of the seriousness of making threats and encouraged families to talk about this over the weekend.
"Students think whatever they post can be a joke and no one's going to take it seriously," Dunn said. "But from a police side of thing, investigative side, we do take every post seriously and we investigate it to the fullest."
In light of the recent increase in school threats in metro Richmond, CBS 6 reached out to the law enforcement agencies in the area to ask how many they have received in recent years.
Hanover County Sheriff's Department:
- 2024-25 school year: Three threats (including the unfounded TikTok one).
- One case is pending.
- One was cleared as prosecution was declined.
- 2023-24 school year: 20 credible threats.
- Five were cleared with arrest or juvenile offense report.
- One was cleared because the victim did not cooperate.
- One was cleared with "other" listed as the reason.
- Eight were cleared as prosecution was declined.
- Five were inactivated.
- 2022-23 school year: 25 credible threats.
- Eight were cleared with arrest or juvenile offense reports.
- Eight were cleared because the victim did not cooperate.
- One was cleared with "other" listed as the reason.
- Three were cleared as prosecution was declined.
- Five were inactivated.
Henrico County Police Department
Henrico provided the number of threat assessment reports its department conducted. It said the assessments "would cover many concerns but are not limited to: threats against themselves, threats against other students, threats against administrators/staff, bomb threats, social media threats, etc."
- 2024-25 school year (8/19-9/11): 11 threat assessment reports.
- 2023-24 school year: 131 threat assessment reports.
- 2022-2023 School Year: 147 threat assessment reports
Police urged anyone with information about any threat to call police at 804-748-1251. They also encouraged parents and trusted adults to speak with young people about "the importance of reporting potential threats and using social media responsibly."
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
