Two days, two threats: Crenshaw Elementary caller identified as elementary student

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Families at Crenshaw Elementary are on edge after two consecutive days of shooting threats at the school -- threats police say came from another elementary school student in the district.

Parents received an email from the school's principal around 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30, notifying them that Chesterfield County officers would be on campus after an anonymous caller threatened to "shoot up" the school.

Grandfather Bobby Eberth said the threats left his family shaken.

"I was legitimately worried. My granddaughters were scared … it’s elementary school, you know?" he said.

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Eberth told 8News his daughter decided to keep her children home the next day out of concern. That same morning -- just before 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 -- another email went out to families, alerting them to a second anonymous threat.

Police were stationed at the school while students in classroom trailers were moved into the main building.

"I’m sure that was a traumatic experience," Eberth said.

In total, families received five email updates about the threats. The final message, sent Wednesday afternoon, notified parents that police had identified the caller as another Chesterfield elementary student. It is unclear whether the student responsible attends Crenshaw.

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Police determined the threats were not credible and no charges will be filed.

Eberth said families were frustrated with how the information was shared.

"Parents are busy, emails don’t always get read -- something this serious should have been more than just an email," he said. "Why wasn't there a text message sent? You can send a text message out for buses, being late, weather conditions, stuff of that nature."

In the final email, Chesterfield County Public Schools acknowledged the emails were slow to arrive, but said the division remains committed to keeping students safe.