CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Several questions remain after Chesapeake City Public school administrators said a student brought a gun to Grassfield High School Monday morning.
Around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Brian Haughinberry, principal of Grassfield High School, alerted parents and guardians that earlier in the day another student reported to "a trusted adult" that a student had brought a loaded handgun onto school grounds.
However, parents who received the voice memo from Haughinberry believed the incident was part of an ongoing active threat, and called 911.
"This action triggered a large response from police, adding tension to an already trying situation," Haughinberry wrote.
In a direct message to parents hours after the incident, Chesapeake Schools superintendent Jared Cotton shared with families that school administrators never placed the school into lockdown.
Cotton said this was done because trained personnel reacted "swiftly and discreetly," pulling the suspect out of the classroom without any incident.
However, parents told 13News Now they were frustrated not only by the school's response, but also because their children also had no idea what was going on.
"She was quite upset and so were the other kids and they never did tell them what was going on," said one Grassfield High School parent about her daughter. "I think the students should know. I'm not saying to panic them, but I think they have a right to know what is going on."
However, Cotton said the decision to go into lockdown is not made lightly. He said to do so would have activated broader emergency protocols.
Cotton also pushed back against the idea that the suspected student was part of a larger plot to threaten or harm Grassfield students or staff. Instead, administrators believed it was an isolated incident.
The student now faces a Class 6 felony for bringing a weapon onto school grounds. If convicted, she could face up to 5 years in prison. A spokesman with Chesapeake Police said it's possible more charges could follow.
This is the direct message Superintendent Cotton sent to Grassfield families Monday night:
Dear Families,
As you know, Grassfield High School experienced a concerning safety event earlier today. The school administration and security personnel responded promptly, along with the School Resource Officer, to contain the threat.
In this situation, a lockdown was not necessary because the report was handled swiftly and discreetly by trained personnel. Security staff immediately removed the student from the classroom without incident, minimizing disruption and ensuring the safety of others. Law enforcement conducted a search and secured the weapon while maintaining control of the situation. Decisions about lockdowns are made carefully, and in this case, the steps taken ensured a safe resolution without needing to activate broader emergency protocols.
The entire situation, from report to confiscation and arrest, was handled promptly and efficiently. Unfortunately, upon sending a notification to parents about the incident, rumors began to circulate and misinformation spread very quickly. As a result, a well-meaning community member alerted the authorities to what they believed to be an active threat. This action triggered a large response from police, adding tension to an already trying situation.
We understand that this incident is deeply concerning, and many parents are left with questions. As a district, we work to provide as much information as possible as quickly as possible, in order to build trust within our school community. We also place trust in our parents to use that information carefully and responsibly. It is important for everyone in our school community to work together to ensure accurate information is shared during safety situations. As we saw today, misinformation can create unnecessary fear and disrupt our efforts to address the situation effectively.
We take any and all reports of threats seriously and investigate in each instance. If you have information about any possible threats, please contact law enforcement or school administration as soon as possible. At this time all reports indicate this was an isolated event. There is no evidence to support the idea that this incident is part of a larger plot to threaten or harm students and staff at Grassfield High School. However, as a precautionary measure and out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased police presence on campus tomorrow to ensure the continued safety and security of our students and staff. This is intended to reassure everyone in our school community, and we appreciate your understanding and support.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jared Cotton
Superintendent