Fredericksburg Middle School Secure Posture Lifted

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Out of an abundance of caution, T. Benton Gayle Middle School in the Fredericksburg area was placed in a "secure posture" Tuesday morning around 11 a.m., as Stafford County sheriff's deputies were investigating a domestic situation in the England Run area, according to authorities.

By 12:15 p.m., the sheriff's office had lifted the hold and school operations resumed, according to a Stafford County Public Schools spokeswoman.

"The Sheriff's Office placed the building in the hold as a safety precaution, and they are the entity that removed the hold," she said. "Our students were not in danger, and we very much appreciate the Sheriff's Office support in keeping our students and community safe."

Located north of the City of Fredericksburg, Gayle Middle School is in SCPS. The England Run neighborhood is located south of the school.

SCPS follows a Standard Response Protocol, which includes five specific actions that are taken during an emergency:

• Hold – Stay in your classroom or area; clear the hallways
• Secure – Get inside. Lock outside doors
• Lockdown – Locks, lights, out of sight
• Evacuate – Move to a specified location
• Shelter – Use a safety strategy for a specific hazard

Patch reached out to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office for more details. This story will be updated as soon as more information about the investigation becomes available.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office immediately at 540-658-4400.