School threats bring serious consequences, authorities warn

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - We’re diving deeper into the real and serious consequences of school threats after a recent outbreak of them across our area.

Just in the past week, we’ve told you about threats made in at least four different counties. Most of them were made on social media. Now we’re hearing from Augusta’s district attorney about what happens when the person responsible is caught.

The District Attorney’s Office says the bottom line is that if you threaten a school, you are going to jail. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bad joke, you have no intentions to really hurt someone or if you’re just trying to get out of a test.

For example, the threat made against Burke County High School was determined not credible – still, the reward for leading to an arrest is up to $4,000. And an arrest is just the beginning.

Prosecutors say there are serious consequences for making threats against a school. Students should not think that because they’re juveniles, there will not be consequences.

A school threat could be prosecuted as a terroristic threat which could land you five years in prison. It does not matter if you are seriously considering harming others or not.

More credible threats that include steps toward actually committing the violence could result in serious prison time as an aggravated assault or even criminal attempt murder.

So regardless of scribbling on a wall or posting on an anonymous app, authorities say they will find you and you will be held able.

Outbreak spreads across region

In the past week, threats from Aiken High School have school districts, local, state and federal partners working to keep our communities safe.

Most of the threats were made online, although the Davidson and Hephzibah threats were found in restrooms.

The Burke County, Richmond County and Aiken County school districts are working to investigate the threats and will continue to practice an abundance of caution, heightened safety measures, a higher law enforcement presence, hallway supervision and random school sweeps.

Among the most recent incidents were rumors of violence at Aiken High School on Monday and North Augusta High School on Tuesday.

The rumors stemmed from a post the Aiken County School District said was circulating on social media outlets and particularly among students.

The district said in a message to parents on Monday that the post was “thoroughly investigated by local law enforcement and was determined not to impact normal school activities.”

The district said it took precautionary steps, such as boosting the law enforcement presence, raising hallway supervision and additional communications. s said these steps were taken out of “an abundance of caution.”

That same threat was making the round Tuesday in North Augusta and “has been deemed not credible by law enforcement,” according to the district.

With threats last week at Burke County High School an open and unsolved matter, deputies conducted an unannounced sweep Tuesday of the campus with the assistance of sniffing dogs.

It came a day after a 16-year-old student at the high school was taken into custody in connection with a threat at Cross Creek High School in Augusta.

The Burke County Sheriff’s Office was ed by the Richmond County School System’s safety and security staff regarding the threat on Yik Yak that said: “I’m shootin’ up Cross Creek High School Monday. Be ready.”

After authorities traced telecommunications data, the Burke County Sheriff’s Office took in the student for questioning. He itted sending the threat and was detained at the Regional Youth Detention Center, Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams said.

Meanwhile, a Thomson-McDuffie Middle School student sent another student an email Monday morning threatening violence within the school, the McDuffie County School District said.

The threat was reported immediately to school personnel and the sender of the email was detained at once by the school resource officer.

No weapons were found on the student, the district said.

The Davidson threat was found in a restroom shortly before dismissal Friday, according to the Richmond County School System.

The threat was unsubstantiated but continues to be investigated by safety and security officers, the district said.

“Out of an abundance of caution,” the law enforcement presence has been increased this week on the campus in Augusta.

LETTER TO PARENTS OF STUDENTS AT DAVIDSON FINE ARTS SCHOOL:

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