Heather Bell
Two people are in custody in Roanoke following on-line threats to schools via a Snapchat group used by students at Patrick Henry High School, which caused public schools in Roanoke to close last week.
The ‘re-sharing” of those threats had ramifications for schools in the New River Valley, with increased police presence and an investigation in Christiansburg. Students in Radford were put into a brief lockdown Friday as well, but Radford’s superintendent said Monday that was unrelated to the Roanoke on-line threat.
“Christiansburg Police are aware of a threat being re-shared throughout our school community through social media,” the Town of Christiansburg announced Friday. “Investigators have determined that this social media post originated from a different school district in another jurisdiction and does not reference any schools or buses in the Montgomery County School System. Our investigation has found no credible threat to any school in Christiansburg.”
An on-line threat led to a brief lockdown at Radford High and John. Dalton Intermediate schools Friday afternoon.
“Earlier this afternoon, school and law enforcement were made aware of an online threat made to Radford High School,” the school division sent in a phone and email message to parents on Friday at about 1:45 p.m. “Radford City Police and Radford City schools investigated this threat. Out of an abundance of caution, Radford High School and John Dalton Intermediate School were placed in a secure status. McHarg and Belle Heth went into a hold status as a cautionary measure. At this time, we believe it is safe for students and staff at all schools to resume their regular school day.”
“The safety of our students and staff remains our top priority,” the announcement continued. “We take all threats seriously and as always, appreciate the assistance of the Radford City Police. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s school principal.”
“Our incident from Friday appears to be specific to Radford High School and does not give the impression of being connected to the other occurrences,” said RCPS Superintendent Dr. Adam Joyce on Monday. “A social media threat was brought to the attention of staff and investigated. Our administrators, working shoulder to shoulder with our SRO’s and the Radford City Police Department, acted swiftly and professionally to end the episode almost immediately.”
Stephen Karl Johnson, 35, was arrested Thursday after an investigation by the City of Roanoke Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Johnson was federally charged with one count of communicating in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person. A juvenile connected to Johnson has also been arrested in the investigation.
“This defendant caused fear and emotional distress to the parents and students of the Roanoke City Public School system and for those actions he has been justly charged,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said. “If anyone communicates a threat to our schools, our public servants, or our public institutions in the Western District of Virginia, we will seek to hold them accountable under federal law. I am grateful to Chief Booth, the Roanoke City Police Department, and the FBI for their diligence in bringing a peaceful end to this situation.”
“The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice those individuals who threaten to do harm to our communities,” said Stanley M. Meador, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Richmond Division. “We will continue working with our local law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe.”
The Dept. of Justice release said “according to court documents, on the evening of Feb. 21, 2024, several threatening messages were posted to a Snapchat group used by Patrick Henry High School students. Those messages included but were not limited to:
“Im done bro fr on some real sh** I’m pulling up to school with a ak and any kid I see that’s in my sight I shooting fr.”
In reaction to these messages, Roanoke City Public Schools closed all facilities on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024.
In order to join the Snapchat group reserved for Patrick Henry High School students, users must register with a Gmail addresses. Investigators were able to trace the threatening messages to a Gmail address used by the defendant.”
The FBI and the City of Roanoke Police Department are investigating the case.
