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Student arrested after graffiti threats found on bathroom walls of Virginia Beach high school

Posted at 5:51 PM, Oct 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-29 16:38:31-04

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Students reported seeing graffiti containing threatening language on the bathroom walls of Ocean Lakes High School, a school spokesperson told News 3 Tuesday.

Ocean Lakes Principal Claire LeBlanc sent the following message to parents:

Good afternoon, parents. This is Dr. Claire LeBlanc, principal of Ocean Lakes High School. Earlier today, we were made aware of graffiti messages written on some of our bathroom walls referencing violence at our school. I want to let you know that police are investigating the matter to find the student responsible. In the meantime, as a precaution and to help reassure students, there will be an additional police presence at the school tomorrow. We appreciate your support, and look forward to seeing all of our students in class tomorrow. Thank you. 

A spokesperson confirmed that more graffiti was found in the bathrooms Wednesday, which prompted another message from Principal LeBlanc:

Good afternoon, Ocean Lakes families. This is Dr. Claire LeBlanc and I am calling you with an update to the graffiti left in our bathrooms yesterday. This morning, additional graffiti was found in other school restrooms with similar messages. Police have been here all morning and will remain until they complete their thorough investigation. That said, I want to assure you that we are continuing school operations and classroom instruction as normal. If your child has any information regarding these messages, please encouragethem to report it to our staff or a member of the VBPD. Again, I thank you for your cooperation and continued support of Ocean Lakes High School.

Police made an arrest in connection with the threats on Monday. Principal LeBlanc sent another message to parents once an arrest was made:

Good evening, Dolphin families. This is Dr. Claire Le Blanc, and I am calling you with an important update. Earlier today, police arrested the student responsible for the threats written on our bathroom stalls. Appropriate disciplinary action has been taken at the school level, and the student is now facing multiple criminal charges. I want to again thank our entire school community for their understanding and their support over the course of this investigation. I also want to thank the Virginia Beach Police Department for their leadership and continued work on this case. Finally, parents, let me again echo my comments from throughout this ordeal and ask that you speak to your children on the importance of using their best judgment. Threats of any kind are not acceptable and they will be held responsible for their actions. If anyone, at any time, hears or sees something suspicious, please come to an adult and report it. As always, I thank you for your support of Ocean Lakes. Thank you.

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