CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Authorities in South Carolina have investigated over 60 threats against schools in the last two weeks, according to the state's top law enforcement agency.
A total of 23 counties have received threats since Sept. 4, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). That's the same day four people were shot and killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia. A 15-year-old student and his father are facing multiple charges in connection with the tragedy.
Of those 23 incidents, SLED says 21 teens have been charged. The majority of the threats have been made on social media, including an alleged shooting threat at Lancaster High School on Sept. 11. District leaders increased security at the school but no campuses were put on lockdown.
"School threats are not a joke," SLED Chief Mark Keel said. "Law enforcement takes every threat seriously, and everyone needs to understand there are serious consequences."
Several school districts in the Charlotte area have been impacted by threats, too, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Two juveniles were arrested in connection with school threats in Cleveland and Gaston counties, while CMS is also investigating a bomb threat at Bailey Middle School in Cornelius.
A CMS spokesperson told WCNC Charlotte that an increase in threats after acts of school violence isn't uncommon, saying 40 North Carolina schools have received threats since the Apalachee tragedy.