CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Rumors and threats of violence at schools have been circulating online and amongst students this week.
The trend is impacting school districts across the Lowcountry and throughout the U.S., and a criminal defense attorney is now explaining the potential consequences.
Earlier this week, a 12-year-old was charged with making online threats at Berkeley Middle School. Administrators at Bishop England also decided not to allow fans at Friday’s varsity football game amid “concerns posted on social media across the state and country containing threats of violence.”
Anyone who makes a threat on social media, through a text message, or through an email could face local, state, and/or federal charges.
“We work closely with our law enforcement partners to determine their credibility, share information, and take appropriate investigative action,” an official with the FBI said to News 2 in a statement.
According to the FBI, a person who makes a threat of violence can face up to five years in federal prison. If charged in South Carolina, they could also face a fine or jail time on the state level.