Robert Anderson to Blythewood High: South Carolina schools hoaxed by TikTok shooting challenge

Fake calls about active shooters were made from several schools across South Carolina on Wednesday. Campuses were placed under lockdown. However, authorities later found that a TikTok challenge was behind the hoax. 

Officials confirmed that none of the schools had an active shooter situation. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is helping individual law enforcement agencies and federal authorities investigate. 

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“The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) is aware of school threats across South Carolina,” SLED spokesman Renee Wunderlich said in a statement Thursday afternoon.

“SLED is evaluating the credibility of these threats. While at this time the threats are believed to be a hoax, SLED encourages each jurisdiction to take any and all threats seriously. SLED is actively working with our state and federal law enforcement partners. If you have any information about these threats, please call local law enforcement.”

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Authorities in Richland County said that there ‘is no evidence of any gunfire or injuries at the Blythewood High School in Richland County. The district announced that the students will be released to parents from the stadium at the high school.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said that the fake active-shooter calls were ‘unnecessary and just ridiculous’. 

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“There’s no excuse for that kind of conduct. People try to get the children educated and live their lives and have successful days and to have something like this thrown into it is unnecessary and just ridiculous. And it’s a crime.”

List of schools hoaxed by the TikTok shooting challenge:

Burke High:  The Charleston Police Department said that a ‘possible emergency situation’ at Burke High School was confirmed to be a hoax. Officers got a call about an active shooter at around 9:20 AM Wednesday. 

“Arriving officers performed an extensive sweep of the school and found no injuries or suspects,” Inspector Michael Gillooly said.

Blythewood High: Richland County officers were called in at 10:25 AM. They were told that someonewas shot. However, law enforcement found no active shooter on the site. 

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Beaufort High: The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Beaufort City Police Department and other first responders reported on scene for a report of shots fired. The call came in at approximately 9:30 AM. 

Myrtle Beach Middle: The Myrtle Beach Police Department received a call around 9:30 AM.

Loris High School, Conway High School and Robert Anderson were the other schools hoaxed by TikTok shooting challenge.