Community meeting held to discuss recent threats made against Prince William County schools

WOODBRIDGE, Va. - Students and parents came together Monday night at a community meeting after threats of gun violence were found in high schools in Woodbridge.

Since Jan. 4, police have investigated at least five threats scrawled on bathroom walls at Woodbridge, Gar-Field and Forest Park High Schools as well as social media threats.

Police said a juvenile who lives in Prince William County has been charged for threats on social media. They have also identified another juvenile suspect who lives west of the Mississippi.

The graffiti threats remain under investigation.

School leaders said they called the meeting because some parents are keeping their students home from school because of the threats. One parent said she let her child stay home on Friday after several of her classmates didn't attend classes.

"She said Thursday, there were not a lot of kids in her class," said parent Nancy Zimmerman. "She went to several classes where there were only five kids in her class. So a lot of kids are staying home."

Prince William County police said there have been no more new threats at this point. They reassured parents they will maintain heightened security at the schools with plain-clothed detectives as well as uniformed officers.

Police are stressing these are not credible threats and multiple dates of threats have passed with nothing happening. Police said it is important to note that in previous school shootings, they don't advertise that they are going to do it.

Police are also asking parents not to feed into the sensation and to talk with their kids.

There is one more threat that was stated for this week. We have been asked not to say the date because the investigation is still ongoing. However, they have no plans to cancel school.