South Carolina law enforcement is investigating more than 60 threats targeting schools across 23 counties following a deadly high school shooting in Georgia. Since the Sept. 4 incident at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga., which left two students and two teachers dead, state officials have been on high alert.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has charged 21 juveniles in connection with the threats, many of which were made through social media. Authorities stress that these threats, though sometimes intended as pranks, are taken with utmost seriousness.
“School threats are not a joke,” SLED Chief Mark Keel said in a statement. “Law enforcement takes every threat seriously, and everyone needs to understand that there are serious consequences.”
SLED’s Behavioral Science Unit has been called in to assist in six of the investigations, each taking place in a different county, though details of the specific counties and investigations remain confidential.
According to SLED spokesperson Renée Wunderlich, the agency is working closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement to track the origins of the threats and apprehend those responsible. Additional details regarding the threats, arrests, and charges have not been released.
One of the reported threats included a shooting threat at Lancaster High School on Sept. 11, while Horry County Schools in the southeastern part of the state also faced rumored threats circulating on social media.
Officials urge anyone with information about potential threats to contact law enforcement immediately, emphasizing that such information is crucial for preventing potential tragedies.
The threats come in the wake of heightened concern nationwide, as other states have faced a similar uptick in school threats following mass shootings. Authorities continue to investigate the sources and motivations behind the threats in South Carolina, while maintaining an active presence in securing schools.
