BEDFORD, Va. – 10 News is learning more about a threat that forced Liberty High School to be placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon.
Arrest warrants reveal that 18-year-old Bryce Wilson Snead, one of the two students arrested and charged in connection with the incident, is facing a felony charge.
According to a Liberty High School Minutemen sports roster, Snead is also a student-athlete – #9 RB/LB on the football team.
The second person has not been identified given that authorities are not permitted to reference a juvenile and their charges, according to Bedford Commonwealth’s Attorney Wes Nance.
According to the arrest warrant, Snead is facing the following charge: “communicated to Liberty High School staff/administrators information, knowing the same to be false, as to the existence of a peril of bombing, burning, destruction or damage to a place of assembly, building or structure, or a means of transportation.”
Officials said there was no active threat, no gun was found and no shots were fired.
We will continue to update this article as we learn more
UPDATE
Two students have been arrested after a threat sent Liberty High School into lockdown on Wednesday afternoon, according to Sheriff Mike Miller.
Authorities said they received a 911 call and that prompted the police response at the school today.
Miller said he can’t reveal what was communicated in the phone call at this point as the investigation is ongoing but he said that two students were arrested following the phone call.
The Sheriff said first responders arrived at the school within minutes when they received the call.
School leaders also said they notified parents as soon as they could.
“We have various levels of lockdown -- because of the proximity to this building Liberty Middle also went into lockdown -- but that was a low-level lockdown, or a perimeter lockdown, which means no one comes in or out of the building and students say in their classroom and instructions continues per usual,” Marc Bergin, Superintendent, Bedford Co. Public Schools said.
The Sheriff said no gun was found and no shots were fired.
You can watch a portion of the press conference officials held on Wednesday afternoon below.
ORIGINAL STORY
All buildings have been secured after Liberty High School was placed on an active lockdown around 2 p.m., according to school officials.
Officials said law enforcement officers are on the scene to ensure the safety of students and staff, and they said there is no active threat.
Students will be dismissed as normal.
Liberty Middle was also on low-level lockdown, and students will be dismissed per normal procedure.
You can read the full statement sent to parents below:
Today May 10, 2023, Liberty High School is on active lockdown as of approximately 2:00 pm due to a reported threat. Law enforcement officials are on scene to ensure the safety of students and staff. Law enforcement has secured all buildings and at this time there is no active threat. Student dismissal will proceed per normal procedures. Please know that as more information is received, details will be released.
Liberty Middle is on low level lockdown as well. Students dismissal will proceed procedures.
Stick with 10 News as this breaking news story develops.
