All Fredericksburg City Public Schools were closed Friday as authorities search for a missing 16-year-old boy accused of trespassing at a high school.
The Virginia school district announced the closure of all schools early Friday, citing “safety and security reasons based on information we received late last night and early this morning.” Officials told students and staff not to report to schools.
Fredericksburg police said officials were searching for a missing 16-year-old boy from Fairfax County, Safar Fasihullah. He was seen trespassing at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg earlier this week and then fled school grounds, police said.
“We believe there are potential safety and security concerns with this individual’s mental state. In an abundance of caution, Fredericksburg City Public Schools were closed,” police said in a statement.
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He was arrested Friday in New Jersey and is in custody.
Fasihullah was wanted for trespassing on school property. Fredericksburg police told News4 they had no evidence Fasihullah has any weapons.
Fairfax County police called the missing 16-year-old a “runaway” and said his family reported him missing on Monday, March 17. Fairfax County police assisted in the search effort.
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The FBI’s Washington Field Office told Fredericksburg police on Thursday night that they were looking for Fasihullah, city police said in an update late Friday afternoon. City police recognized him as a trespassing suspect at James Monroe High earlier in the week.
“Information received from the FBI aided in our identification of this offender and elevated our concern for safety in our schools,” city police said.
Fasihullah is believed to have stolen a vehicle in Stafford County late Thursday. It was found out of state Friday afternoon.
“From our investigation today, we’ve learned there is no direct threat to the Fredericksburg City Public School system,” police said.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children listed Fasihullah as missing.
Increased patrols of schools by sheriff’s deputies were implemented Friday.
The Spotsylvania Sheriff’s Office said it was “aware of the threats against the City of Fredericksburg Public Schools.” No threats were made against nearby Spotsylvania County Public Schools, the office said.
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