ONLEY, VA - The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office has charged a 16-year-old with threatening to bomb or burn Nandua High School on Friday.
Deputies say they received a report of the threat on May 2 just before 10 a.m. and arrived to the high school to assess its legitimacy. Students and staff were evacuated to a safe location before police arrived, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
"Out of an abundance of caution, Nandua High School has been evacuated due to a threat," Accomack County Public Schools said in a social media post Friday. "We have immediately activated proper protocols to ensure safety of all students and staff. Law enforcement has been notified and is on site. Please know student safety is our top priority and we are taking all necessary measures."
Virginia State Police and Norfolk Police Department K-9s trained in detecting explosives were dispatched, and the ensuing search revealed no such devices. Police say the threat was then determined to be a hoax.
Further investigation reportedly led police to identify a 16-year-old as the suspect, and the teen was arrested. He is currently being held without bond at the Norfolk Detention Center on one count of threat to bomb or burn a building.
The Accomack County Sheriff’s Office says this was an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the community in connection to the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 757-787-1131.