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Gang initiation rumors called untrue

DOVER — Delaware State Police were "inundated" Wednesday evening with telephone calls regarding a text message that was circulating throughout the day in Downstate Delaware and portions of Maryland.

State police spokesman Sgt. Joshua A. Bushweller said the message warned of a planned gang initiation in which women would be shot and killed at local Wal-Marts, and it urged women to stay away.

Sgt. Bushweller said the state police Information and Analysis Center could find "no credible information deeming this as a real threat" and that readily available information "reveals this as an urban myth."

In fact, versions of the same rumor have been circulated since at least 2005, according to Snopes.com, a Web site devoted to debunking Internet rumors and urban legends. For more information visit http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/walmart.asp.

The Dover Police Department agreed that the messages were unfounded, as were statements that it had issued a warning regarding the potential shooting. "This is NOT correct," Lt. Benton Counselman said.

"The Dover Police Department HAS NOT issued any warning regarding these text messages or potential shooting at Wal-Mart. "

The department had no credible information to verify the content of the text messages, he said.
Investigators from the Dover Police Department also contacted the Milford and Camden police departments, which had also received the same information from residents in those towns.

Additional patrols were assigned to the Dover Wal-Mart as a precautionary measure, Lt. Counselman said.