An Ebonics-laced text message warning women to shop at Walmart at their own risk is nothing more than a hoax, authorities said after fielding scores of calls about the text messages Wednesday.
The text, apparently written by a third grader, reads, "Police r askin all women not 2 go 2 Walmart 2nite there is a gang iniation & 3 women will be shot 2nite. Dis is not a joke send this 2 even nonwalmart shprs."
Police aren't sure what a "gang iniation" is, but they are pretty sure women have nothing to worry about.
The text messages were in heavy circulation as far north as southern Georgia and even caused the big wigs at Wally-world to put out a statement reassuring customers they were not targets (and that there was no need to shop at competitor Target).
"The safety and security of our customers and associates is our top priority," wrote Walmart flack Dan Fogleman, who said the national chain stepped up its security efforts in response. "While we take these types of situations seriously, we regard this as being only a rumor, much like similar rumors that have circulated via e-mail in previous years."
