Lockdown drill at Beaufort Co. school was unrelated to nearby gunfire reports, police say
Wednesday morning’s lockdown drill at Broad River Elementary School was unrelated to a reported gunfire incident in a nearby neighborhood, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Beaufort County and Port Royal police responded to multiple shots fired calls around 7:45 a.m. Wednesday near the Shadow Moss neighborhood, located between Robert Smalls Parkway and Broad River Boulevard about a half-mile south of the elementary school campus. Officers found no evidence of suspicious activity or shell casings in the area, according to sheriff’s office spokesperson Master Sgt. Danny Allen.
About 45 minutes later, Broad River Elementary informed parents and guardians the school was entering an “unannounced lockdown drill” recommended by law enforcement. The event was unrelated to the reported gunfire and was one of three active shooter drills conducted yearly at every Beaufort County public school, according to district spokesperson Candace Bruder. That’s one more than what is required annually under South Carolina law.
The coincidental timing sparked online rumors that the school initiated the lockdown in response to a potential safety risk. The morning’s confusion follows a barrage of unsubstantiated school threats made in Beaufort County and all across South Carolina last month, which prompted increased alertness from police, parents and school staff alike. At least one Beaufort-area student was charged in relation to the threats.
Allen added that the Shadow Moss neighborhood borders a large swath of unincorporated Beaufort County, where firing personal firearms is legal and not uncommon.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2:20 p.m. to reflect that Beaufort County public schools conduct three active shooter drills per year, while South Carolina law requires two drills annually.
This story was originally published October 2, 2024 at 1:27 PM.
