Sheriff: Sumter high school threat of violence rumor ‘not credible’

SUMTER, SC The Sumter County Sheriff’s Department sought to kill a rumor circulating Thursday night that an act of violence was threatened at a local high school.

In a release late Thursday, the department said it “ is aware of, but does not believe there is any merit to, rumors currently circulating among students and the community of a threat of potential violence at Crestwood High School” Friday.

Sheriff Department spokesman Braden Bunch said law enforcement, working with school and district officials were able to discredit the rumor after talking to the alleged source of the threat.

To alleviate concerns students, parents and staff may still have, extra officers will be assigned to the school on Friday, Bunch said.

This story was originally published May 28, 2015 at 10:35 PM with the headline "Sheriff: Sumter high school threat of violence rumor ‘not credible’."