On February 14, 2024 at approximately 7:57AM, the Culpeper County E-911 Center received a 911 phone call. When the dispatcher answered the phone, the caller disconnected. In accordance with their policy, the dispatcher first attempted to call back and then sent a text message to the phone number. The caller responded to the text message with profanity-laced threats to commit a school shooting and to shoot at law enforcement. Then the caller called back into the E-911 Center and verbally repeated the same statements.

The E-911 Center was able to determine that the caller was currently in the area of private school Keys Academy. Keys Academy is a coeducational day school licensed by the Virginia Department of Education to serve students grades K-12 who have special needs classifications of Emotional Disability (ED), Autism, Other Health Impairment (OHI), and/or Specific Learning Disability (SLD).

Due to the nature of the threats being made while students were arriving at the school, Culpeper Police Department officers and Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office deputies quickly responded to the area. Prior to law enforcement’s arrival, the caller was positively identified as a juvenile teen male known to law enforcement and Keys Academy staff. When officers and deputies arrived at the school, the juvenile was located and detained without incident. It was determined that the juvenile did not possess any weapons and did not pose an immediate credible threat to public safety.

The juvenile was transported to the Culpeper Police Department where he was interviewed by detectives. In accordance with Virginia law, his legal guardians were notified and they cooperated fully with the investigation.

Based on the investigation, the Culpeper Police Department has charged the juvenile with felony Threats of Death or Bodily Injury to Persons on School Property and misdemeanor Falsely Summoning Law Enforcement. The juvenile was transported to the Blue Ridge Juvenile Detention Center where he was held without bond. Per Virginia law, no additional identifying information about the juvenile will be released.

“We’re grateful that no one was injured or ever in harm’s way,” said Culpeper Police Chief Chris Settle. “Due to the immediate response from officers and deputies, they were able to quickly determine that there was no imminent risk to our children. I want to reaffirm to our community that we take any threat to our children and our schools seriously. Regardless of who they are, a person is responsible for the words that they use; especially when those words threaten the lives and safety of others."

This is an active and on-going investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call MPO Det. M. Hays at 540-829-5508 or email tips@culpeperva.gov. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540-727-0300 or submitting a tip at culpeperpd.org.

Nothing is attached with this press release.

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Contact: Master Police Officer Julia Cole

Email: JCole@culpeperva.gov

Phone: 540-829-5525

February 15, 2024

JC-2024-04