Bethel classes were disrupted this past Wednesday as fake social media rumors fueled fears that the school was being targeted in a calculated scheme. As students crowded around the security desk, parents overwhelmed the attendance office with requests to pick up their children early.
Threats of gun violence have been circulating around social media at both the national and local levels. Around the Hampton Roads peninsula, tensions have been running high because of recent tragedies in a neighboring district. The proximity and timing of these tragedies has left students on edge.
Early Wednesday morning, a post went viral on Instagram around the Bethel community. The post read, “This is not a joke. Please pay attention. People are saying this is part of a plan…they are going to pull the fire alarm and shoot everyone when we get outside…please spread this message.”
“This is really worrying, and it’s disturbing our learning environment,” one freshman, who wished to remain anonymous, stated. “We shouldn’t be feeling [like] this at school.”
By the end of first period, students were texting their families, while parents called the office or came to the school to pick their children up from classes. For a brief time during second period, students crowded around the main security desk before being directed back to class to wait for formal permission from the office to go home.
“There have been some shootings at schools in different states,” junior Makenzie Wiktor stated. “I understand we’re one of the most secure schools in Hampton, but I’m genuinely concerned for peoples’ safety.”
Bethel administration and staff reassured students and assisted parents requesting to take their children home early. Around lunchtime, Hampton City Schools sent out a letter via ParentSquare to address the social media rumors:
“People keep making threats because they think it’s funny [but] it’s not,” senior Riley Wilkins asserted. She added, “Staff isn’t letting people know what is happening, but we know because of social media…it’s about our safety, and we need to know.”
The rumors circulating around social media proved false, but students and families are still uneasy. Emotions are running high.
“I feel very anxious,” one student shared. “My anxiety is out the roof…[and] I just want to go home.”
Hampton City Schools affirms that “a safe learning environment is the number one priority of our school division,” and they urge anyone who hears of potential threats not to share them, but rather report what they’ve heard directly to the Safe School hotline (757-727-2255).