Chapin, Dutch Fork high schools latest targets of potential threats

Chapin and Dutch Fork high schools were the sites of a threat of violence Monday.

A Lexington-Richland School District 5 official confirmed threats were made at both Chapin and Dutch Fork.

A photo circulating among those in the Chapin community showed the words “Shooting up the school tomorrow!” written on what is said to be a bathroom wall in the high school.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said it was aware of the threat at Chapin High School. It plans to add extra deputies to the school resource officers already working on the campus.

“We’re looking into a potential threat made today at Chapin High. We’ve been in constant communication with (Lexington-Richland School District 5) throughout our investigation,” Capt. Adam Myrick said. “As part of our work to ensure a safe environment for students and faculty, we plan to place extra deputies on campus and increase patrols in the area tomorrow.”

Parents reported that the bathroom where the threat was allegedly discovered was locked to prevent anyone else from seeing it, as resource officers and law enforcement investigated.

“All threats are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly,” director of communications for Lexington-Richland School District 5 Katrina Goggins said via email. “Safety is a top priority for our school district, and we will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure our schools remain safe places to learn.”

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a threat at Dutch Fork of something happening on Tuesday morning, according to wistv.com.

These weren’t the only threats made at a Midlands school Monday. Earlier, Camden police deemed a threat at Camden High School not credible, but continue to investigate the matter.

Additionally, a 13-year-old girl at Chestnut Oaks Middle School in Sumter County allegedly wrote Monday that she would “shoot the school down.” She will be petitioned to Family Court for disturbing schools, according to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

This story was originally published February 19, 2018 at 9:35 PM with the headline "Chapin, Dutch Fork high schools latest targets of potential threats."