Marlboro County Schools e-learning switch came after student’s shooting, school fight, other threats, superintendent says

MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The FBI is assisting state and local authorities in an investigation of recent violence and social media threats aimed at Marlboro County High School.

District officials moved the high school to e-learning this week after a student was shot and amid other violence and threats, Superintendent Helena Tiller said Thursday in a news release.

“The FBI takes threats very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk,” an FBI spokesman told News13 in an email on Thursday. “While we have no information to indicate a specific and credible threat, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to gather, share, and act upon threat information as it comes to our attention. We urge the public to remain vigilant, and report any and all suspicious activity and/or individuals to law enforcement immediately.

Tillar said the law enforcement presence at the high school was increased on Monday “in response to incidents of violence in the Bennettsville area that resulted in the shooting of one of our students.” Then, on Tuesday, a fight involving six high school students led to “threats against students” and a “modified lockdown.”

“Law enforcement swiftly investigated, resulting in an arrest and recommendations for expulsion,” Tillar said in the statement.

News13 is working to get more information from authorities about the incident, which prompted the district on Wednesday to dismiss high school students early and switch to e-learning on Thursday and Friday.

“We understand that these incidents have been alarming, and we want to be transparent about the steps we have taken to address them,” Tillar said, adding that district leaders have had meetings with representatives from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the FBI, Solicitor Will Rogers, the sheriff’s office Bennettsville police, McColl police and other local law enforcement agencies.

Tillar said there have been other threats.

“Last night a threat was made against McColl Elementary Middle School,” she said. “This type of threat has been made against schools across the nation, including those in Georgetown and Horry Counties and found thus far to be a hoax.”

Tillar said all of the threats have been “thoroughly investigated” and that “no viable threat” found. “We are confident that it is safe to return to school on Monday,” she said.

Tillar also said the district understands the community’s concerns.

“However, it is crucial that we allow law enforcement to conduct thorough investigations before releasing any information to the public,” she said. “Premature disclosure could compromise ongoing investigations and jeopardize the safety of our students and staff. All decisions made by the Marlboro County School District are guided by the best interests of our students, faculty, and staff. We appreciate your continued support and understanding as we navigate these challenging times. Together, we will ensure that our schools remain safe and conducive to learning.”

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.

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Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .

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Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of her work here .

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