Multiple schools in Lexington County targeted in threats, officials say

Several schools in Lexington County were named in a threat Tuesday morning, the most recent in a string of threats targeting schools across the Midlands.

A threat was sent directly to Batesburg-Leesville High School, and other schools including, River Bluff High and White Knoll High, were also named in the message, officials in Lexington County said. Irmo High School was also included in the threat, Lexington-Richland 5 spokeswoman Laura McElveen told The State.

Law enforcement was contacted and all four high schools were searched, officials said. Nothing was found at any of the schools, which were cleared of any threats.

Students and staff were evacuated from Batesburg-Leesville High, Lexington 3 spokeswoman Mackenzie Taylor told The State.

“After assessing the situation, law enforcement deemed it safe for students and staff to return to the building,” Taylor said. “All students and staff are safe and have resumed their regular school day activities.”

That is also the situation at White Knoll and River Bluff high schools, according to law enforcement. But those Lexington 1 schools were not evacuated, law enforcement told The State.

Students and teachers at those schools, which were also named in similar threats issued in February, remained in place in their rooms while law enforcement officers from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Lexington Police Department searched throughout White Knoll and River Bluff, respectively.

Deputies responded to White Knoll and cleared the building, sheriff’s department spokeswoman Sarah Alexander told The State. Operations at the high school returned to normal, according to Alexander.

Law enforcement told L-R 5 officials that there was no evidence that the threat against Irmo High was credible, and the school maintained normal operations, according to district officials.

“School District Five takes any threats to students and staff very seriously,” L-R 5 officials said in a news release. “Please be assured that School District Five’s utmost priority remains student and staff safety.”

While there was relief that nothing was found at any of the schools, being targeted in a threat takes a serious toll, according to police department spokesman Capt. Cameron Mortenson.

“It’s a tremendous disruption,” Mortenson told The State. “It causes tremendous anxiety to students and staff.”

”There’s an emotional impact on students and employees,” Lexington 1 spokeswoman Libby Roof told The State.

Additionally, law enforcement has to divert officers and resources to what is a hoax, and in some cases a copycat repeating previous false threats.

There’s no indication that this threat was made by a student, but a 15-year-old Spring Valley High School student was charged in February for issuing threats in Lexington and Richland counties.

Roof said students need to know that anyone involved in making a threat faces serious consequences. That could include a suspension and recommendation for expulsion from school as well as criminal charges.

“Never joke about it,” Roof said. “It’s not something to say ‘what will happen?’ ”

School resource officers are still patrolling all of the schools, and Taylor said there will be an increased law enforcement presence on the Batesburg-Leesville campus at afternoon dismissal.

Anyone with questions or concerns about the incident at Batesburg-Leesville can call the Lexington 3 office at 803-532-4423.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

This story was originally published March 7, 2023 at 11:38 AM.

Noah Feit

The State

803-771-8435

Noah Feit is a Real Time reporter with The State focused on breaking news, public safety and trending news. The award-winning journalist has worked for multiple newspapers since starting his career in 1999. Support my work with a digital subscription