HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — A 16-year-old has been taken into custody after making threats to Harrisonburg High School Sunday night that resulted in both Harrisonburg High and Rocktown High Schools being closed Monday.

In a release, Harrisonburg Lieutenant Chris Monohan says the teenager goes to Harrisonburg High School. Two petitions were obtained, and a detention order was issued against the juvenile for threats of death or bodily injury to a person on school property. The second petition was for a threat against Wilson Memorial High School, which was made Monday.

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said in a release that at about 6 pm, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office received information about a threat to Wilson Memorial High School and after investigation, the gun violence threat mirrored the same threat made to Harrisonburg High School on Sunday evening.

Sheriff Smith said the threats that were intercepted from the same SnapChat profile as the Harrisonburg High School threat and Harrisonburg Police Department were able to take a 16-year-old into custody who was transported to a detention center and will not be on campus today.

Harrisonburg, Rocktown, and Wilson Memorial High Schools will all be open today and on a regular schedule. However, an increased amount of police will be present.

Harrisonburg Police say several of the tips they received from the community in this investigation were received through
tip411, an online platform for providing tips to HPD. Residents are encouraged to download the Harrisonburg PD app, powered by tip411. The app is designed to assist residents in connecting with HPD, viewing community alerts, and submitting anonymous tips directly from their smartphones. Those without a smartphone can still share information with police by sending an anonymous text tip. Simply text the keyword HPDVA and your message to 847411 (tip411).

Sheriff Smith added “the ACSO and Augusta County Public Schools remind parents to monitor, educate, and counsel their children about social media. Students and young adults may think these types of threats are funny, jokes, or used to seek attention. However, the ACSO and School Administrators need parents to understand and explain that these threats have serious consequences.”