A threat that turned out to not be credible prompted a lockdown at two Arlington schools Friday morning.
It happened shortly before noon at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and nearby Alice West Fleet Elementary, after a caller threatened imminent violence, according to scanner traffic.
“Just before 11:40 a.m. today, a staff member at Thomas Jefferson Middle School received a threat by phone, which prompted staff to contact 911,” families of both schools were told this afternoon. “Both TJMS and Alice West Fleet Elementary [were put] in a lockdown status.”
A large police response was quickly reduced and the lockdown lifted after the threat was determined to be non-credible.
The full email to families is below.
Dear TJMS and Fleet Families:
I want to provide an update on this afternoon’s lockdown. Just before 11:40 a.m. today, a staff member at Thomas Jefferson Middle School received a threat by phone, which prompted staff to contact 911, Safety, Security and Emergency Management (SSEM), and put both TJMS and Alice West Fleet Elementary in a lockdown status.
This resulted in a large Arlington County Police Department (ACPD) response at both schools as police investigated the report of a possible threat. ACPD determined there was no credible threat and lifted the lockdown status.
The investigation into the source of the telephone threat is still ongoing and additional ACPD presence remained on the scene at both schools during dismissal as a precaution.
Thank you to our staff and students for their response and cooperation during the lockdown. The safety and security of students and staff are our top priority, and we take these threats seriously.
