Ominous Text Message a Hoax, Police Say

By Amy Lester, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma City Police Department is investigating a text message that is circulating around the state that has plenty of people disturbed.

The text says to avoid Wal-Mart stores around Oklahoma tonight because of a gang initiation ritual which involves shooting at least three women. The Oklahoma City Police Department gang unit is confident this is a hoax.

Gail Moore received this text message not once but at least five times.

"It did make me think that maybe this is true," Moore said. "We weren't going to Wal-Mart tonight, but if I had been going, I'd probably just stay home and wait until tomorrow."

The same text message is spreading today in 21 other states across the county. The myth busting Website http://www.snopes.com mentions this exact text as false.

"It's some type of a hoax or a prank," Capt. Steve McCool said. "Our Criminal Intelligence Unit and our Gang Unit could find no credible information that would make us believe that this is an actual threat or substantial threat right now."

The Website said it originated in 2005.

A spokesperson from Wal-Mart said the company knows about this and is enhancing security. While they take it seriously, they believe this is simply a rumor.

"People need to stop doing this because it can cause a mass scare, especially in this state," Moore said.

In all the states where it showed up before, no violence ever happened.