Alexandria Police Place Extra Officers at High School After Online Threats
Officials expanded the presence at two campuses Thursday while investigating posts that did not specify the platform or details of the danger.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Alexandria City High School hosted additional law enforcement officers on Thursday morning as police investigated threatening messages posted online. Chief Tarrick McGuire confirmed in a release that the department detected posts referencing the institution, although officials withheld information about the specific social media platform or the exact content of the warnings.
The deployment places extra guards at both the King Street and Minnie Howard locations. These sites typically have assigned school resource officers, but the new personnel serve as a precautionary measure. Classes followed their regular schedule despite the increased security presence.
The department's Homeland Security Section coordinates directly with the school system. McGuire stated that this joint effort aims to "ensure a safe learning environment for students, staff, and faculty." Police also asked families who spotted the posts to report them and advised students and residents to avoid resharing the threats on their own feeds.
This situation mirrors events from two years ago when local schools faced similar online warnings. In September 2024, messages describing pulled fire alarms and planned shootings circulated as part of a nationwide wave of copycat hoaxes. Many of those posts originated out of state before gaining local traction. Authorities eventually charged several teenagers in connection with that earlier incident.
Virginia law classifies making threats against a school as a Class 6 felony. Conviction carries a penalty of up to five years in prison. Police indicated the current investigation remains active.
