Lexington police denounce 'multiple rumors' after threat disrupts schools

The online threat involving Lexington Middle School remains an active investigation, police said.

"Social media app investigations are complex, and detectives are following up on all leads and information that has been shared," the Lexington Police Department said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon. "There have been multiple rumors circulating online through the day, which are not true."

No arrests have been made in the threats involving the SnapChat social media app. The agency said it is working with the State Law Enforcement Division "to bring this case to a conclusion."

Police took a report of a "threat of violence" made against Lexington Middle via Snapchat on Monday night, the agency announced through Twitter on Tuesday morning. They did not provide additional details about the threat, which apparently indicated something would occur Tuesday at the middle school.

Police also directed officers to all Lexington 1 schools in the town limits as "just a precaution," according to Cpl. Cameron Mortenson, spokesman for the Lexington Police Department.

The threat also included a reference to Richland Northeast High School and "a school in another Midlands district," according to an email sent to Richland Northeast parents, a copy of which was provided to The State.

"The threat does not appear to be credible and there is no evidence of an immediate safety concern on our campus," the email reads. "However, we are being extremely cautious and are working closely with law enforcement."

The threat referencing Richland Northeast was reported to a school resource officer, who learned the social media post is circulating in "several states."

"Individuals are using the same photo and changing the names of the schools threatened in the post," the email states.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department on Monday investigated a threat that appeared to target Richland Northeast High School, according to Capt. Maria Yturria. However, investigators determined the threat was referencing a school in New Jersey, Yturria said.

"The kids are scared," a mother told The State as she headed to the school to pick up her daughter. "When your kids are texting you to please come pick them up when something like this happens, what can you tell them?"

Mortenson said police understand parents' concerns.

"We're doing everything possible to ensure that students who are at school are safe," he said.

Parents lined up outside Lexington Middle until around 10 a.m. to remove children from school. Lexington Middle (953 students) had 383 students marked absent Tuesday in one or more classes (40.2 percent), according to Lexington 1 spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill. That compares with 61 students marked absent last week.

“We do not tolerate threats to our students’ safety, and we believe that every child deserves a safe learning environment,” Superintendent Greg Little said in a statement. “Our administrators, school resource officers and many others work every day to make our schools safe places.”

Students and parents can report any safety concerns to a school administrator, school resource officer, school counselor, teacher or other employee. The district also has a Tip Line (803-821-1232) that students, parents and others can use to anonymously report safety concerns.

Lexington Middle is located at 702 N. Lake Drive in Lexington.

"Officers worked overnight and throughout the day [Tuesday] to verify this threat and to investigate this situation," Hill said in a statement. "They also supported Lexington Middle throughout the day by assigning additional officers to the school as a precaution. It is our understanding that those officers will remain at school until this investigation is complete."

This story was originally published April 24, 2018 at 7:36 AM with the headline "Lexington police denounce 'multiple rumors' after threat disrupts schools."