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Virginia Beach parent worried about suspicious vehicle

Posted at 7:32 PM, Oct 02, 2014
and last updated 2014-10-03 17:36:21-04

Virginia Beach, Va. - Kevin and Tommy Kerr just found out their middle school classmate and neighbor reported a white vehicle followed her home from her bus stop in their Lake Placid neighborhood.

"Yesterday, I was nervous to get off the bus because I really didn't want anything bad to happen to me," 11-year-old Kevin said.

When the twin boys told their mom, Amber Kerr says she was not happy that Virginia Beach Public School Officials didn't notify parents.

It often brings her to tears just talking about it.

"It's your children; I mean just thinking about the potential of someone taking one of them," said Kerr.

But the bottom line is, public school officials say they didn't want to scare parents.

City public schools spokesperson, Jeff Barba, told NewsChannel 3 sending out notification before investigating creates more speculation. That`s why nine times out of ten they take the time to get all the facts first.'

Barba confirmed a report was made by two students at Corporate Landing Middle School. But he says there was conflicting information - one student said it was a white van, another said a white jeep.

“The Office of Safe Schools was notified and looked into the matter finding nothing substantial,” Barba wrote in an email to NewsChannel 3. He continued, “The principal took the initiative to follow the bus on its route yesterday and nothing was out of the ordinary.”

Still, NewsChannel 3 just wanted to make sure parents are aware of the initial report.

That’s what Kerr says she wanted all along.

"Not every kid tells their parents what goes on and there's a lot a parents that haven't had that conversation because we live in a safe neighborhood," Kerr said.

Hours after NewsChannel 3 contacted school officials about the report, Principal Freddie Alarcon sent kids home with the following letter:

“As you are aware, the safety of students is our highest priority. Consequently, when a neighborhood incident was reported to administration we took great care to investigate it, calling on police to help us do so. Specifically, a few students reported a suspicious vehicle near a bus stop in Lake Placid on October 1. However, students were unable to confirm a specific make or model of the reported vehicle.

Upon investigating the incident, police advise us they do not believe this to be a credible threat. However, taking parent concern into account the first precinct continues to monitor the area as does Corporate Landing Middle School’s Resource Officer.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact school administration. We welcome your input and your involvement in our school.”