FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2023
CPD Responds to Safety Threat at Charlottesville City Schools
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – On May 9, 2023 at approximately 1:00 p.m. this afternoon, Charlottesville police responded to a credible threat at Buford Middle School.
Further investigation revealed that students at Greenbriar Elementary School and Charlottesville High School were also subject to the threat. As a result, Buford Middle School, Charlottesville High School, and Greenbrier Elementary School were each placed on modified lockdowns. Charlottesville police officers secured each school and maintained a visible presence throughout the remainder of the school day.
The suspect is identified as twenty-two-year-old Dionte Tremaine Ruffin, an Albemarle County resident. Ruffin is currently wanted on unrelated charges. The Charlottesville police department will have a uniform presence at each affected school for the remainder of this week during drop-off and pickup.
If anyone has information about Dionte Ruffin’s whereabouts, please contact the Charlottesville Police Department at (434) 970-3280 or Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000.
UPDATE 5/10/2023:
Yesterday, Charlottesville police officers responded to Bufford Middle School for a threat of violence directed at a single student. To ensure the safety of all students and conduct an investigation, the school was placed on lockdown. Dionte Tremaine Ruffin, who shared a connection with the mother of the student, was identified as the suspect in this incident. It was also discovered that the victim’s mother had children at both Charlottesville High School and Greenbrier Elementary.
Not knowing the suspect’s location at the time, Charlottesville police officers were deployed to all three schools to ensure the safety of all students for the remainder of the school day. At this time, no threats have been made toward the schools. The Charlottesville Police Department (CPD) has taken steps to ensure the safety of the family to whom the threats were directed.
If anyone has information on Dionte Ruffin’s whereabouts, please contact CPD at (434) 970-3280 or Crime Stoppers at (434) 977-4000.
Media Contact
Kyle Ervin
Public Safety Information Officer
City of Charlottesville
434-326-3043
ervinkl@charlottesville.gov