Sumter School District releases statement on 'lockout' of Bates Middle, Lakewood High

Sumter School District released a statement regarding a lockout that occured at two schools on Tuesday morning. 

According to Shelley Galloway, executive director of communication and community engagement for the district, "out of an abundance of caution, law enforcement investigated separate alleged social media threats toward Bates Middle School and Lakewood High School."  

Based on the information received, Lakewood was placed on a "soft lockout," while Bates was placed on "lockout for majority of the day," Galloway said. 

Tonyia McGirt, public information officer for Sumter Police Department, said there is no credible threat and officers are investigating. She also explained a lockout as a procedure where  students are in school and no one is allowed to enter the school. 

The difference between a lockdown and lockout is that during a lockout, the school operates as normal with the exterior doors locked.  During a lockdown, the interior doors of the school are locked. 

"Our pledge to our families is that we will take all incidents and allegations very seriously and deal with students in accordance with the Sumter School District Code of Conduct and law enforcement when deemed appropriate," Galloway said.

McGirt said the lockout for Bates was initiated this morning and lifted this afternoon.  

An update on the status of Lakewood will be added when it becomes available.