Greenville High School Bomb Threat Leads to Arrest of Teen

School evacuation drill preparation.

Greenville High School Bomb Threat Leads to Arrest of Teen

Greenville — A bomb threat at Wade Hampton High School resulted in heightened police presence and the arrest of a 15-year-old female student on August 8, the same day school commenced for the year. Authorities conducted a comprehensive search of the school but found no evidence of any explosives.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office reported that two separate threats were made: one on August 5, and the other just two days later. Investigators quickly identified the source of the threats and apprehended the student at around 12:53 a.m. on the first day of classes. Following her arrest, she was taken to juvenile detention in Columbia. Due to her age, her identity is not being publicly disclosed.

As students arrived for their first day at Wade Hampton, parents were informed around 8 a.m. of the situation through phone calls and emails. The school’s principal, Carlos Grant, reassured parents that the school was safe and operations would continue as planned. He also mentioned that the girl would be recommended for expulsion due to her actions.

In response to the threat, the school district implemented an extra precaution by setting up a portable weapons detection system, known as EVOLV. Additionally, more police officers were present on campus to ensure student safety.

According to Sheriff’s spokesman Ryan Flood, incidents like these are not uncommon when school begins. He noted that while the threats might seem trivial, the consequences for the student involved are serious. “These sorts of threats usually have no basis, yet they can lead to real charges,” Flood said. He confirmed that the student had a prior record of issues at the school.

Flood also expressed disbelief regarding the motives behind the threats, suggesting the timing was aimed at causing disruption as classes resumed. “It’s typical for us to see these types of incidents during the start of a school year,” he added.

The incident has raised awareness about the serious implications of making such threats and reinforces the commitment of law enforcement and school officials to maintain a safe learning environment.