Updated 1:10 p.m.
Prince William school officials lifted the secure the building order at Potomac High, Potomac Middle, and Mary Williams Elementary schools.
1 p.m.
A witness told Potomac Local News police with hands on their guns appeared to have surrounded a man nearby a CVS Pharmacy that was robbed just before 1 p.m. We’re told Mary Williams Elementary School was on secure the building mode but conditions have returned to normal.
More as we have it.
12:45 p.m.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. — Williams Elementary, Potomac Middle, and Potomac High schools have been placed in “secure the building” mode due to police activity in the area.
Police said a man walked into a CVS Pharmacy just before 1 p.m. and showed a handgun, demanded medications, and then fled the scene. No one was injured and police are searching for the man. He is described as black, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 140 pounds, with a thin build, with a dark complexion, last seen wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, black shirt, and black pants.
This latest robbery comes it comes after other Prince William County Public Schools in Lake Ridge were also placed on safe mode status due to police activity just before 11 a.m. today.
The lockdown of the schools in Lake Ridge came after a robbery at a shopping center.
A man walked into a Check into Cash store at 12367 Dillingham Square in Lake Ridge before 11 a.m., showed a handgun, and then made off with an undisclosed amount of cash. Police don’t know if the suspect fled on foot or in a car, but swarmed the area in search of the man.
They described him as black with a medium complexion, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 150 to 160 pounds, with a thin build, unknown age, robbed a Check into Cash inside Dillingham Square, also known as Festival at Old Bridge, on Old Bridge Road in Lake Ridge.
Police swarmed the area in search of the suspect who was last seen wearing a black sweater with red lines, black hat, khakis colored pants, sunglasses, gloves, and carrying a backpack, partially gray in color, said Prince William police spokesman Jonathan Perok.
Nearby Woodbridge Senior High and Old Bridge Elementary schools were placed in secure the building mode during the police search. All students at these two schools were reported to be safe, stated Prince William schools spokeswoman Irene Cromer.
