(Updated at 2:25 p.m.) Kilmer Middle School in Tysons has stepped up the presence of its security team today (Friday) in response to an alleged threat of gun violence heard during a fight.

In a message sent to parents at 3:10 p.m. yesterday (Thursday), principal Steven McFarlane said the school had been “made aware of an alleged threat of gun violence that was overheard by students during a fight” that afternoon.

The incident prompted an investigation by the school’s Office of Safety and Security and the Fairfax County Police Department, which jointly determined that there was “no direct threat” at the time.

“Out of an abundance of caution, tomorrow we’ll have extra Safety and Security presence to ensure our students feel safe,” McFarlane said in the email.

According to the FCPD, its school resource officer at Kilmer began an investigation after someone reported overhearing one of two students involved in “an altercation” say that they “may bring a gun to school.”

The police department initially told FFXnow that it was determined “no threat to bring a gun to school was made,” but a spokesperson later clarified that the investigation is still ongoing.

“The students involved have been identified,” the FCPD told FFXnow by email. “There is no active threat to the school at this time. FCPS will conduct their own risk assessment with the student(s) as a follow-up.”

FCPS didn’t return a request for additional comment.

According to McFarlane, the investigation included a risk assessment. Fairfax County Public Schools requires a team of school staff to conduct an assessment “when a student makes an explicit or implicit threat or demonstrates concerning behaviors that may pose a danger to the safety of school staff or students.”

McFarlane’s full message is below:

November 30, 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have been made aware of an alleged threat of gun violence that was overheard by students during a fight this afternoon. Fairfax County Police and our Office of Safety and Security are involved in the investigation, which includes a risk assessment. It has been determined that there is no direct threat to the school at this time. Out of an abundance of caution, tomorrow we’ll have extra Safety and Security presence to ensure our students feel safe.

The safety of our students is our primary concern, and we will always investigate these incidents as soon as we are made aware. The first step that you should take if your child shares a safety concern with you is to contact authorities. If your safety concern is an emergency, please call 911. FCPS Office of Safety and Security also has a safety tip line that you can access anonymously online, by text or by phone.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Image via Google Maps

(Updated at 10:55 p.m.) The presence of Fairfax County police and school security has been enhanced at Glasgow Middle School in Lincolnia today (Thursday) in response to rumors that a student might bring a gun.

Fairfax County Public Schools is working with the Fairfax County Police Department to investigate “third and fourth hand anonymous rumors” that a student had threatened to bring a gun to the school today, Glasgow principal Victor Powell said in a message sent to families last night (Wednesday).

“We believe we have identified the students who may be involved, connected with those families, and the investigation will continue,” Powell wrote. “Out of an abundance of caution, we will have additional uniformed school security and police presence/patrols at the school tomorrow.”

FCPS said it had no further comment on the investigation. The FCPD confirmed that it investigated the rumors last night and added more officers at the school today as a precautionary measure, but the threat didn’t appear to be substantiated.

The gun rumors may be linked to a fight that took place “between several students” outside the school’s main office earlier this week, according to Powell.

“One of our assistant principals was struck during the incident but was not seriously hurt,” Powell said.

He didn’t share how many students were involved in the fight but said that all of them are being disciplined in accordance with FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities policies.

Today will be an early release day for students, who also have tomorrow (Friday) off to mark the end of the school year’s third quarter.

Powell expressed hope that the short break will give students a chance “to reset and come back to school following the expectations of behavior that we have for all — respect, kindness and resolving our issues with healthy and safe choices.”

“Please take this time to talk with your students over the long weekend about your expectations as well,” he said. “As a team, I know we can get our Glasgow Panthers back on track.”

The full letter to families is below:

Dear Glasgow Middle School Families,

Good afternoon. Earlier this week, there was a fight between several students outside of our main office. One of our assistant principals was struck during the incident but was not seriously hurt. All of the students involved are receiving disciplinary consequences in alignment with our Student Rights and Responsibilities.

There are now third and fourth hand anonymous rumors spreading around school that a student also threatened to bring a gun to school tomorrow. We are fully investigating these rumors in partnership with our Office of Safety and Security and the Fairfax County Police. We believe we have identified the students who may be involved, connected with those families, and the investigation will continue. Out of an abundance of caution, we will have additional uniformed school security and police presence/patrols at the school tomorrow.

We hope that this short break at the end of the quarter (early release tomorrow and no school on Friday) will give students time to reset and come back to school following the expectations of behavior that we have for all – respect, kindness and resolving our issues with healthy and safe choices. Please take this time to talk with your students over the long weekend about your expectations as well. As a team, I know we can get our Glasgow Panthers back on track.

We recognize that these past two years have been incredibly challenging, and we do have supports in place. Please reach out to your child’s counselor.

Humbly,

Victor L. Powell, Principal

Photo via Google Maps