I have gotten this for from several people this afternoon, and I know that you are usually on top of things and would like to know if there might be any truth to this? I know I will not be going to Wal-mart just to be on safe side, I work with about 65 lady's and about 20 have received the same text.
The text state's; Police are asking all women not to go to Wal-mart North or South tonite there is a gang iniation and 3 women will be shot tonite!
Thanks for always getting us the news fast!!! I love your website!!
I too have received several of these text messages and here's what I have come to learn. First of all, AT ANY TIME you need to know your surroundings in any parking lot. Secondly, both the Salisbury Police and WCSO are checking into where the original text message originated.
The Eastern Shore Crime Information Center is also researching where the first text came from but no one can confirm or deny it at this point. Think about it Folks, I highly doubt a Gang would announce ahead of time that they were going to shoot three women.
Ease up on calling the Police and simply use your head. In due time, should they get to the original person who started this rumor, they'll let us all know. In the mean time, stop worrying, know your surroundings and don't let these people destroy your every day lives.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
50 comments:
Thanks Joe, I received these emails & texts as well and thought about forwarding them to you. Unfortunately, you can't be too safe anymore in Salisbury.
Think about it, what about people who don't have or use texting (sp?). There will be too many people around for them to just shoot 3 people and not get noticed.
Although i agree with Joe that we ALWAYS have to be careful in any parking lot esp dimly lit ones... this 'rumor' has been disproved on snopes.com. check out the following link:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/walmart.asp
snopes is a great place to check all rumors/urban legends/misinformation... before you spread it further... :)
seriously people, use your brains. I have received this from 3 people so far, and told them all they should probably just stay home anyway because they are too gullible for the world. jeez.
"Should they get the original person".
It should be noted that sending such a text message would not be a crime. Why they would 'get' that person is a perplexing question.
If any body needs any shopping done just ask the mare to go. lol
I just got off the phone with a friend warning me of the same thing. This is the first place I came to look for more information. Fake or real. won't be going shopping tonight
this proves, once again, that people are stupid. hey everyone, don't go out to eat tonight either. gang members may shot you- and I don't want to have to wait for a table. so yeah, stay home tonight.....insert eye roll here
anonymous 4:19 just to let you know actually it is a crime that is a terroristic threat which ever since 9/11 it is a crime
People, use your brains. A version of this rumor has been circling the Internet for more than 4 years.
These initiations have been "announced" for years and not one has actually occurred in the entire country.
When are people going to stop believing anything they see in print, whether it be in a text message, email, newspaper article or this blog?
Come on...God gave us brains. Let's use them.
Yep, I just got the same message on my phone and not only knew it smelled fishy, but that you would have the answer right here. I forwarded back the snopes link to the person who sent it to me. Thanks for not making me look it up myself!
This text message has been circulating in several states across the Eastern U.S. today. Officials investigating this in GA, FL, AL believe it to be a hoax. This hoax message has been appearing off and on since 2005. If you Google it, you can see it's been around for years.
I think Target sent it to drum up business.
If true, all gun owners should show up to Walmart and take back our city. Why should we allow them to control us? I would bet that many people are not going to Walmart tonight. I imagine crime would go down if more people were allowed to carry a gun. Most registered gun owners use their guns responsibly. It's a joke you have to be scared to go somewhere. A few registered gun owners and gangs might be soon be gone.
I recieved it 7 times, thought it was a joke... but no walmart for me. Thaks for the info!
I knew I could count on you Joe
If only poor Anitra Pirkle had been warned about gang initiations the night she was viciously stabbed to death after stopping at the tastee freeze for a milk shake. Hoax or not, this town is dangerous and it makes no sense to take unnecessary chances. Just because the police chief and the mayor don't acknowledge this sad state doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Although Im not guilable and know that this is prob. false. im not taking any chances. ..you never know with the crime rate icreasing and the gangs in salisbury are getting bigger, you can never be to safe.
I got this text as well,better safe than sorry.those of you who think this is funny SHAME ON YOU!! Police officers have other REAL crime to tend to rather than deal with little games!!
Anon 4:55 you are probably a law-enforcement officer with a community college degree who enjoys the limited power granted unto you. Securing a conviction would be absolutely impossible. I'm going to send the message to 200 random 443 numbers now, because it is simply not a crime.
Yeah, It's an old one. Bet some employee who wanted to take off from work there tonight dredged it up in hopes of the stores being closed.
anonymous 623, you need to go to walmart tonight, get shot, and then call for a degree carrying police officer to come and find the low life that shot you. Do you think law enforcement is stupid?
Hey Anon 6:23 if it is not a crime then give your name and number.
to anon. 6:23 pm
Don't play with fire , you will get burnt. It is a federal offense.
I thought it sounded like a hoax, but it is not stupid to take caution. If people were shot, we would also be called stupid for not paying attention, would we not? Face it, Salisbury is no safe haven either.
Better safe than sorry, you never know. I work in the school system and there are alot of imitators and want to be "gang bangers" who couldn't gang if you ganged for them, but nevertheless a fake trying to be noticed is more dangerous than the real deal and believe me the fake is more in numbers than that of the real.
lady's LOL you have to love the spelling!
the next time I want to go anywhere that there will be a crowd I am going to send text messages so I won't have to wait in line LOL
it's not a crime nor a federal offense. and i guarantee you law enforcement is not waisting the money or resources to track the source of this message down. end of story.
watch someone drive thru the parking lot and set off a bunch of fire crackers....lol yeah...now that would be funny..lighten up, nobody is getting shot
This is great, I got the message 4 times this afternoon AND another one that said it has been verified and should be considered a real threat. First thing I did when I got home was check out sbynews to see what Joe had to say about it. Because I knew if something was up, he would have the news. I was right, great job, thanks so much.
This text or email has been going around in some form or another since 2005. Go to snopes.com for more info. Not saying that anyone shouldn't as always use caution all the time.
THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING!
ah man just another day in the burbs it appears!
Just got back from Walmart with the wife. She survived. We didn't have to wait in line either! Not many people there, but the SPD did drive through the parking lot as we were coming out. Nice to see they are not taking any chances.
I'm usually one to scoff at these types of things. However, this time I gave it another thought just because I know there are gangs active in Salisbury. They do things that don't make sense to normal human beings. It doesn't make sense to go to a place as busy as Walmart and shoot people or to let someone know you intend to do it. But it also doesn't make sense to murder someone and then try to keep their car and that happened!!
For those who do not think that a "threat-text" is illegal,it IS!Not long ago a guy in Somerset County texted a picture of a gun to a girl he knew along with a threat to come to her high school armed with the gun.Guess who paid him a visit at home shortly after ?
Its making a terroristic threat.
SNOPES or not, and yes, I have seen this one before -- in our area, I'd almost bet 'our gangs' would love it, and attempt it.
Sorry, no Walmart for me or anyone else I love today--if I get a carry/conceal, that's different. Bring it.
I did not read this post until about one hour ago and guess where I went this evening for some groceries? I was wondering why the store was pratically empty and no one was in line, Now I know. Unfortunately, this sounds like a hoax and wonder why it is targeting Walmart? Next it will be office buildings and movie theaters. Then watch their business go down the drain. How would you like this to happen to your place of business? Salisbury is getting too scary!
does anybody know WITCH wal-mart it is. i want to take my wife shopping LOL just kidding i have a good woman
@ Anon 6:45
To answer your question, I don't think that law enforcement officers are necessarily stupid. For instance, federal agents have legitimate college degrees, funding, and training. Many law enforcers at agencies such as The Securities & Exchange Commission understand complex financial prodcuts, and have nobly dedicated their lives to protecting innocent victims.
Members of the WCSO & SPD on the other hand, are largely uneducated, unaware, and generally incapable.
However, I am glad that they will be the ones getting shot for $25,000 and year and not me.
Good Day!
6:23, if I innocently send you and 20 friends a text message that "I heard there will be a gang initiation tonight at Wal-Mart," it's not a crime.
If you intentionally use federally regulated bandwidth to send a similar message for the purpose of having some fun to prove a point, and put people in a panic and hurt a business, then you are just as guilty of a crime as if you call the little old lady down the street and breathe heavy into the phone.
Abuse of the phone system is a crime.
P.S. and abuse of the phone system was a crime long before 9/11.
Anon 5:49 is right. She was an innocent victim just like you and me. Snopes or not, Salisbury sucks and even being able to imagine this to happen around here proves that it can. Its easier to believe it to be false if crime wasnt as bad here as it is. Problem is, crime is bad here.
I live in Mobile and this rumor surfaced 2day (3-18) I know a lot of folks being safe then sorry no matter how false it is. I'm not taking any chances either cause who knows what looney might be sitting around and decided to pull it off. This is so sick. And for everyone making fun of the situation, if someone does decide 2 act this out and its ur mother sister wife or grandmother who gets murdered how funny would it be then?
I went to the McDonalds by South Salisbury Walmart, the was the least cars in a walmart parking lot. There is alot of smart people out there. why would u even not belive it. there is alot of dumb ... people out there who dont care if they hurt anyone. is walmart really that important ppl? i dont think walmart is going anywhere tonight, so be safe, shop tomorrow
i have also received text messages that say send this to 15 ppl or you will be cursed in love or you will die or you will be rich its all BS its just a way for someone with no life to see if they can bee seen so when you get that crap just don't send it thats the way panic and fear is spread and in my eyes is like a terrorist threat.
I'm in small, way out in the middle of nowwhere, KY that has but only 4 stop lights and got this message. I had to laugh, C'mon. This is ridiculus. Unless the cows have now formed a gang in my small town as well as apparently every other place that has a wal-mart...oh wait wal-mart is everywhere. this is as lame as "don't flash your headlights at a passing car that has forgotten to turn thier lights on. because its a gang thing and they will shot you" please people be more logical.
LOL... all the way here in Minnesota we have been getting the texts all day today, and a lot of people whom I am friends with that are NOT friends with others that I am friends with have too. What a farce! Know how to scare the crap outta someone. However, just also know that "gang" information could be leaked out by someone who doesnt want people to get hurt...
Ahhh funny.
They're circulating through the Seattle area!
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