Student being held at DJJ after making bogus claim of school threat

Courtesy: Sumter Police Department

SUMTER, S.C. (WOLO) – A 16-year-old student went from the classroom to the Department of Juvenile Justice after police say she made a bogus claim that another student was armed and threatened a shooting at Sumter High School.

Officials say Sumter police responded to the school just after 9 a.m. Monday morning when the student reported to administrations that she was approached in a restroom by another student who showed her a firearm.

The girl, she claimed, appeared to be upset and threatened to shoot up the school, police say.

As a precautionary measure, students were asked to remain in the building and within their classrooms as officers investigated.

Officers were soon able to determine there was no credible threat and that student later admitted she made the story up, officials say.

“We take all threats to schools very seriously and appropriate actions must be taken anytime a false claim like this is made,” Chief Russell Roark said.