Police: 'It's Not Uncommon' to Receive Reports of Kids at Schools, On Roofs at Night

Kids hanging out at schools - and even on rooftops - after-hours and at night are a fairly regular occurrence.

But, as Fairfax County police spokesman Officer Don Gotthardt told Patch, Tuesday night's tragic incident that took the life of a 14-year-old boy proves it can be deadly.

"In general, it's not uncommon for us to respond to reports of people on top of schools or on school grounds," Gotthardt said. 

"We do take that sort of thing seriously, though. When we get a report like that, we will dispatch helicopters and K-9 units, and officers, and respond," he said.

Read: Police Identify Teen Killed on Elementary School Roof

Gotthardt said FCPD still does not have a full chronology of the events Tuesday night that led to Bennett Rill's death. But what they do know is that the boy was on the roof of Fox Mill Elementary school with friends when he fell on live wires that led to a temporary classroom.

County Fire and Rescue posted the emergency call to its Twitter feed, saying, a "young male hanging from conduit approx 8 - 10 ft off the ground."

Gotthardt said the department "strongly discourages" children hanging out on school grounds at night, or climbing fences and getting onto rooftops.

"We strongly discourage trespassing on school grounds when schools are closed, and especally going on the roofs," he said. "And, not just because it's against the law - but also because of the danger, the obvious hazards."

Read: Blog: 'Thoughts on Childhood, Risks, and the Fox Mill Tragedy'

John Torre, spokesperson for Fairfax County Public Schools, told Patch Wednesday afternoon "FCPS staff is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic event."

Torre was unable to answer whether live wires on rooftops at local schools is a common practice or had to do with construction, or if they are needed to get power out to the temporary classrooms located at the edge of the campus.

Torre was also unable to answer at this time whether the school district will be doing anything in the future to safeguard wires around the school.