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Sumter High Schools on Edge After Threats, Rumors

As a precaution, the sheriff's office says they have placed extra officers in all middle and high schools in Sumter County for the time being.

Students and parents are on edge after a series of threats and rumors circulated around two Sumter County high schools this week.

At Crestwood High School, deputies say a bullet was found on a door frame of an entrance to the gym Thursday morning. The bullet was placed in a way that it would definitely be seen, according to deputies. A janitor reportedly admitted he placed the bullet on the door Wednesday after he found it in the trash, but forgot to notify school officials.

The discovery of the bullet comes just a day after an anonymous note threatening several teachers and a student was found on the campus of Crestwood High School, according to the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

“Unfortunately, some of the students think this is a joke. We had the same kinds of things happening around the country after the Columbine High School shooting,” said Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis. “I don’t understand it. Whoever is making these threats will face serious charges once they are identified.”

Meanwhile, deputies say they have received screenshots of posts threatening to shoot at "SHS." However, they say the "SHS" in the posts does not refer to Sumter High School. Instead, they say these threats, which originated in Ohio, are referring to a Salisbury High School in Ohio.

“Although we still do not believe this is a credible threat, we have placed additional officers at the school as a proactive preventative approach,” Dennis said.

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