10-Year-Old Arrested For Threatening Schools In Manassas: Police

MANASSAS, VA—A 10-year-old girl was arrested Monday after posting an anonymous threat on Instagram toward several Manassas-area schools Friday, according to Prince William County Police. After consultation with the Commonwealth's Attorney Office, detectives obtained a petition against the Stonewall Middle School student, and the case will be handled through Juvenile Intake. The threat was deemed non-credible.

Shortly before 11:45 p.m. Friday, police began investigating the threat, which appears to have been created shortly before the threat was posted and was shut down as part of the police investigation. The schools identified in the threat included six schools in the Manassas area of Prince William County—West Gate Elementary, Stonewall Middle, Sudley Elementary, Ellis Elementary, Loch Lomond Elementary and Sinclair Elementary—and two in the City of Manassas, including Haydon Elementary.

PWC and Manassas City Police investigated the threat over the weekend The threat didn't mention a specific date or time. Manassas City Police identified her Sunday night as a Stonewall Middle School student, after which she was interviewed at her home.

Police "urge parents to take an active role in monitoring what their children are doing online, including the use of smart phone devices and social media."

Image via Prince William County Police