Aiken, SC – A reported gun threat outside an Aiken County elementary school prompted a large law enforcement response Wednesday morning, briefly placing the campus on lockdown and leading to two arrests.
According to the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called around 9:40 a.m. after receiving a report that two individuals were standing in front of J.D. Lever Elementary School and allegedly pointing a handgun at passing motorists. As a precaution, school officials immediately placed the campus on lockdown.
Deputies arrived quickly and located two individuals matching the description provided by callers. Authorities said both were detained while investigators assessed the situation.
After further investigation, no handgun was found, the sheriff’s office confirmed. Despite the absence of a weapon, both individuals were arrested and charged with disturbing schools, a criminal offense under South Carolina law.
The sheriff’s office said the scene was cleared after the investigation, and there is no ongoing threat to students or staff. School operations were able to resume once law enforcement gave the all-clear.
Officials did not release the identities of the suspects or indicate whether additional charges could be filed. The incident remains under review.
Law enforcement emphasized that reports involving potential weapons near schools are treated as high priority and urged the public to continue reporting suspicious activity.
Parents with children at J.D. Lever Elementary were notified during the incident, and no injuries were reported.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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