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Middle schooler arrested for attempting to hire killer clown

Posted at 4:29 PM, Oct 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-03 20:02:54-04

A Virginia middle schooler has been arrested after making a social media threat toward one of her teachers — a threat that included creepy clowns.

According to local media, a 13-year-old girl made contact with an individual on social media and asked the person to murder one her teachers at Hampton’s Davis Middle School. The person she contacted was using a clown as his profile picture and as an “alias.”

The girl was arrested and charged with one count of threatening to kill by electronic message and remains in custody.

The following statement was sent to parents of Davis Middle School:

Dear Davis Middle School Parents/Guardians:

This is Ms. Whiteman, principal of Davis Middle School. In an effort to share accurate information, I would like to provide you with the following facts. Last night, a Davis Middle School student was arrested for making a threat on social media against one of our teachers. No one has been harmed, and the student is in a secured detention facility. At this time, there is no evidence to indicate a threat against others.

Please know that we have taken measures to ensure the continued safety of our students and staff. As a precaution, there will be increased officer presence throughout the day at our school.

Thank you for your support in creating a safe environment for our students, staff and visitors.

The Hampton clown threat is just the latest in a series of threats made by creepy clowns against students throughout the country.

A high school in Cincinnati canceled classes on Friday after a clown attacked a woman on her porch and threatened students at the school. Schools in Virginia were on heightened alert on Friday after anonymous social media clown accounts threatened students.

Creepy clowns have also threatened students in Oregon, New York, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.