Police increase prescence at Upstate, Grand Strand schools Friday in light of 9/11 threat ‘hoax’

Law enforcement leaders say a threat to Upstate and Grand Strand schools on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks is a hoax, but they are still taking steps to bolster security.

A Facebook post that was shared last week and has since gone viral claimed that members of the Black Panther Party were ordered to go to schools in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties and kill white people on Friday, the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

It has been investigated by sheriff’s offices in those three counties along with the State Law Enforcement Division, and investigators determined the threat was not valid, Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller said.

He called the threat “a complete hoax.”

“I know without a shadow of doubt that the threat was vetted thoroughly,” Mueller said. “These clowns post this stuff every time there’s an anniversary to draw on. They try to target off those tragedies to create more fear and panic.”

Still, measures are in place in Spartanburg County to account for any violence Friday, Sheriff Chuck Wright said. Wright does not view the claims of violence as legitimate.

“We’re more than just prepared for normal workday duty,” he said.

Along the Grand Strand, an investigation revealed the “Black Panther” threats circulating on social media about attacks planned against Horry County schools are without merit, but police were planning to keep a watchful eye, according to Lt. Raul Denis, spokesman with the Horry County police.

Rumors about attacks planned against students and teachers found their way into various social media outlets and caused concern, Horry County authorities said.

Denis said an investigation was quickly launched a few days ago after law enforcement intelligence agents uncovered the rumors.

“The source(s) of these rumors were quickly and diligently investigated and the threat was found to have no merit,” Denis said in a release.

He said the Horry County Police Department stands by the investigation conducted by the intelligence agents, and also said officers are playing it safe by maintaining an elevated focus on any and all schools in their patrol areas.

Spartanburg school districts 5 and 6 confirmed the Sheriff’s Office was adding additional manpower to patrol each school in those districts Friday.

Union County Sheriff David Taylor said he has been fielding calls from across the country regarding the threat since Sept. 2. He said the Union County Sheriff’s Office takes every threat it receives as credible, but after an investigation, he said he is confident schools will be safe Friday.

We check out the validity of the likelihood of the threat to see if it’s a threat that can be carried out and we prepare from that point,” Taylor said. “I can’t come out and say it’s not a valid threat, but the likelihood of something that can be done is low.”

Schools in all three counties will be open Friday. Some superintendents have shared news of the threat to alert the communities they serve.

Spartanburg School District 2 Superintendent Scott Mercer issued a statement on Facebook saying he has consulted with law enforcement and assured the public that school leaders will stay vigilant.

“(Law enforcement) firmly believe it is without basis and have promised to keep us updated if anything changes,” Mercer stated.

Mueller said the man who initially posted the threat lives in Union and has been interviewed by law enforcement. He said he is researching whether criminal charges could be filed against the man, who has not been publicly identified.

“If there’s nothing we can charge him with, our legislators need to address that,” Mueller said.“I don’t understand what his motives are, other than to tell you in my opinion he’s an absolute nut for putting that type of fear in parents and children.”

The threat does not mention a specific school, so a charge for disturbing schools would not apply – even though some parents have said they will keep their children out of school Friday, Mueller said.

Wright and Mueller both said they will be sending their own children to school Friday.

“Just like anything else, you have to watch yourself and protect yourself. But I’m not going to allow these people to change my life in any way,” Wright said. “When we as a society start loving our neighbors like the Bible tells us to do, we’re going to be a better country.”

Zach Fox contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 11:47 AM.