ROCKINGHAM — Regional law enforcement agencies are informing residents about a hoax regarding a threat at Walmart.
The Rockingham Police Department posted a message to its Facebook page just before 8 p.m. stating:
“In response to recent social media posts about an incident that may occur at Walmart, the Rockingham Police Department, like other local agencies, has determined that the post is a hoax. We have increased our presence at Walmart so that customers may feel more comfortable and safe.”
Earlier in the day, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina released a similar statement. That post included the message that has reportedly been making rounds across the Carolinas:
“Whatever you do this weekend do not go to Wal-Mart for nothing at all pass this on to family and friends. Got this info from a police officer that is a family member they arrested a man for gun threats and he told them that he was not the only one and that his accomplices will be going to different Wal-Mart stores and shooting. Not a game this is real!!!!”
The post said the Sheriff James Dixon wanted to “to make the public aware that our agency has received no information to prove that this is a credible threat.”
News reports indicated similar announcements were made in Myrtle Beach, Greenwood and Lexington, South Carolina.
