PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, Va. -- A message discovered in a boy's bathroom at Prince George High School prompted a lowdown at the school early Thursday morning.

Lt. Paul Burroughs with the Prince George County Police Department said the message was "deemed to be a threat of violence."

As a result, the school system sent out a phone alert to parents to let them know what was going on.

"It was kinda of scary due to the fact I have two children in the school," parent Lynda Brunson said.

The lock down began just after 9 a.m. and was lifted just before 10 a.m.

"Basically do a sweep of the building, to include outside and the rooftop to ensure that there was no sort of threat within the building, based on the information they received that morning," Prince George Assistant Superintendent Patrick Bingham said.



Prince George schools had been immune to the types of threats being found inside schools across Central Virginia, until Thursday.

"I'm surprised but at the same time I know kids sometimes do things to just try to get attention in schools," parent Jessica Ginenez said.

If a student is behind the message and is caught, he or she faces expulsion from the school and possible criminal charges.