HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — A 13-year-old Hampton girl is in police custody for allegedly reaching out to a person on social media to kill one of her teachers.
Police say the person she contacted was using a clown image as their profile picture. She allegedly reached out to this person to murder a teacher at Davis Middle School.
“The profile that she contacted actually was using a clown as a profile picture and also using a clown related alias,” Officer Ashley Jenrette of Hampton Police said.
According to police, a dispatcher received a call Sunday evening about a threat being made on social media, and the investigation resulted in the teen’s arrest.
Detectives reached out to the teacher to make sure they were OK. Police say there is no evidence at this time indicating threats have been made against anyone else.
There was an increased police presence at the middle school Monday, according to police.
Local police have recently investigated clown-related threats made on social media. One of these alleged threats was making rounds on social media late last week.
Police departments across Hampton Roads said they took the alleged threats seriously, but found no evidence that any of those threats were credible.
The 13-year-old girl arrested in this case has been charged with threatening to kill by electronic message. She is still being held in police custody. The Hampton City School district will examine the student’s future at the school.
“We looked at prior discipline issues and so on, but basically the range is long term suspension to expulsion,” Diana Gulotta from Hampton City Schools said.
A clown scare that came with serious consequences.