COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) says it has investigated over 60 school threats across the state in the past two weeks.  

A total of 23 counties have received threats since Sept. 4, the same day four people were shot and killed at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

According to SLED, of these 23 incidents, 21 juveniles were charged in connection with the threats.

South Carolina isn’t the only state with an uptick in school threats. Schools from the Midwest to the East Coast are noticing an increase in threats over the past two weeks.

According to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, “…evidence strongly indicates that threats increase in schools nationwide after a shooting has occurred anywhere in the United States.”

The FBI warns that all students, school staff, and law enforcement should be more alert in noticing disturbing behavior in the weeks following a “heavily publicized incident” anywhere in the country.

“School threats are not a joke,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “Law enforcement takes every threat seriously, and everyone needs to understand that there are serious consequences.”

SLED said it will continue to work with local, state and federal law enforcement to secure and investigate threats.