Three local schools — Chantilly High School, Greenbriar East Elementary, and Greenbriar West Elementary — were briefly placed on “Secure the Building” status Friday morning following a nearby armed robbery that prompted an intense police response in the Greenbriar area.
According to a message sent by Chantilly High School, the security measure began around 11:40 AM due to “police activity in the area.” “Secure the Building” means all exterior doors are locked and no one is allowed outside, while regular activities continue indoors. At no point, officials noted, were any students or staff in immediate danger.
The trigger for the lockdowns was an incident at the Giant grocery store in Greenbriar Shopping Center, where four male suspects reportedly stole beer and displayed a firearm when confronted by a store employee, according to police scanner traffic and neighborhood witness reports.
The suspects then fled the scene and were believed to have dispersed into nearby residential areas, prompting a swift police search supported by aerial surveillance.
Residents in Greenbriar Fairfax and nearby communities reported helicopters circling overhead and a heavy police presence near Route 50 and Majestic Lane, where two individuals — one in a black hoodie and another in a red hoodie — were reportedly seen fleeing. One suspect is believed to be as young as 15 years old.
Parents across the affected schools received texts from their children informing them of the secure status. Many expressed both concern and gratitude on community forums, commending the schools for their swift action and the students for maintaining calm and composed communication.
Jennifer J., a Greenbriar parent, shared, “I pulled up the scanner — they’re looking for someone, but I didn’t have full details. I had my son come inside and make sure the doors were locked, just in case.”
Sharmin Miran, another nearby resident, confirmed that police informed her they were searching for two suspects and had advised residents to stay indoors.
Shortly before noon, police gave clearance for schools to lift the secure status and resume normal operations. A message from the Chantilly High School administration praised students and staff for their cooperation and assured parents of the school’s continued commitment to safety.
“I am very proud of our students and staff members for the excellent way in which they handled this situation,” the message read. “As always, the students’ safety is our most important responsibility.”
There were no reported injuries, and as of this report, police have not confirmed whether any of the suspects have been apprehended. The investigation remains ongoing.
🛈 Editor’s Note:
This article is based on real-time community posts and publicly available police scanner data. The information has not yet been officially verified by law enforcement. We will update this story as confirmed details are released.
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