CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Schools is responding to “careless yet harmful comments” made by students at different schools threatening or suggesting violence.

Horry County School Superintendent Dr. Rick Maxey released a letter Wednesday night addressing the threatening comments that were either made to other students or posted to social media sites. Dr. Maxey says all threats are taken seriously and the district “will investigate all comments and all threats, and deal with them properly,” although he did not specify what punishment measures would be used.

The letter, which was posted to the district’s Facebook page, confirms that police will be involved in the investigations of threats to students, staff or the school, and criminal charges are possible for those responsible.

The Horry County Police Department confirms its involvement with keeping the schools safe. A tweet from the department Wednesday night says officers will be present at Socastee High School following a threat that’s believed to be a “hoax” but is still being investigated thoroughly.

School district officials say when “careless and reckless words” are used in a small group setting, the district may opt to not send a message to all parents to avoid creating “unnecessary alarm when we are thoroughly convinced that there is no real threat to our students or our school.”

In the closing of his letter, Dr. Maxey asks parents to stay involved and remind children of the impact of careless words or threats and the consequences that could come from saying or posting those words.