HAMPTON, Va. — The Hampton Police Division (HPD) increased its patrols around schools across the city on Wednesday, following national threats made across social media platforms.
Hampton City Schools said some of those online threats mentioned the city and several of its schools. In a message sent to parents, the school division noted, "This is a national circulation that is not isolated to Hampton or even the Hampton Roads area, but throughout the country."
School officials said the HPD is investigating the threats but so far, "the police division has no evidence that there is any credibility to these posts."
In addition to increased police patrols, Hampton officials scheduled additional weapons detection canine visits at schools.
RELATED: 15-year-old Menchville High School student killed after being shot at Newport News bus stop
Also on Thursday, a high school football game between Bethel and Mechnville was postponed. The Hampton and Newport News school divisions said the agreement was in the best interest of the communities, days after a 15-year-old student from Menchville was shot while waiting at a school bus stop.
The threats come a week after two students and two teachers were shot and killed by a 14-year-old in Apalachee, Georgia.
Hampton City Schools said that if a parent or student ever has concerns, they can reach out to the school division using the Safe School Hotline at 757-727-2255.
"We would rather look into a concern and confirm it is not a safety issue than not know about a potential problem," school officials said in its message to parents.