Walmart Gang Initiation: Shooting Texts a Mass Urban Legend Hoax

Many people called KY3 News starting about 2:15 p.m. Thursday to say they received this text message on their cellular telephones: "do not go to wal-mart tonight. gang initiation to shoot 3 women. not sure what wal-mart and confirmed on TV."

This message is a hoax. Springfield police know nothing about it. KY3 News did not report it or start the text message.

Snopes.com, which debunks or verifies electronically-spread rumors spread, says this hoax, or a variant of it, has been around since 2005. 

The messages claim that either on Wednesday night or Thursday three women and possibly two men would be murdered at a Florida Walmart parking lot as part of a gang initiation

Officials in South Florida said it’s nothing but a rumor that's been going on for years.

On Wednesday evening, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said they haven’t heard of the rumor in this area, but then again it’s nothing to worry about.

A spokesperson with Walmart said Wednesday the company is aware of the e-mail.

They told News 13 the security of its employees and customers are a top priority, and even though they believe this is just a rumor, they are taking it seriously and working with local authorities to beef up security measures.

Officials also said the age of technology could be why this rumor is spreading so quickly as people simply forward the email to their friends and family.

WAL-MARTYRED

Claim: Gang initiates must assault or kill a woman, child or elderly person at a Wal-mart.

FALSE

E-mails circulated, warning of deadly gang initiations involving the killing of women and children who were shopping at Walmart.

But no such slayings were ever reported, Snopes reports.

But like the e-mails telling of gang initiations the involve the killing of drivers who flash their headlights at oncoming cars or the dire warnings a couple of years ago how new gang members are knocking on doors and killing whoever answers, the rumor just keeps on trucking.

Over the year, it has circulated with variations and "new" details, as such e-mail hoaxes tend to do.

Several local law enforcement agencies are reassuring the public that reports of a shooting at a Wal-Mart is nothing but a hoax.

Sergeant Jerri Weary with Chattanooga Police says her department received several phone calls reporting a text message about a shooting at the Hamilton Place Wal-Mart as part of a gang initiation.  Sgt Weary said it's nothing but a hoax that's been reported in several states but has not proved to be valid.  She says the text warning was sent out Wednesday advising people to stay away from Wal-Mart because people would be shot and killed. Sgt Weary emphasized there have been no reported incidents at any of the Chattanooga area Wal-Marts.