Wtf is up with this rumor?

[CATMAN]

Police in several states worked overtime yesterday and today to quash rumors about supposed gang initiation killings planned at local Walmart stores. The rumors, which circulated all day Tuesday via email and text message in Valdosta, Georgia, to name one locale, were investigated by the city's Gang Task Force and found to be "not credible," Police Commander Brian Childress said.

Broward and Palm Beach County officials issued similar statements today, labeling gang initiation rumors still circulating in south Florida "hoaxes and urban legends."

One version of the rumor spreading via text message read as follows (verbatim):
FWD: Police are asking all women not to go to any Walmart tonight there is a gang iniation and three women will be shot this is not a joke pls foward
The Times-Journal of Selma, Alabama noted that gang initiation rumors erupted there as well, culminating in a panicky phone call from a subscriber Tuesday night asking if it was true that hostages were being held inside the Selma Walmart store. No such assault occurred, the Times-Journal reported.

Internet rumors naming big-box stores such as Walmart and Target as locations for murderous gang initiation rites have become a staple of urban legendry in recent years. I'm not aware of any instances in which they've proven true.

Most of my friends got the same exact message.

[tear2wo]

a walmart just opened yesterday and evryone here was panicking. cant believe people waste their time sending bs rumors like that. i heard that the same rumor happened in 2005 here in palm beach county.

[Leung]

i haven't heard anything like that but Walmart is on my boycott list anyhow.

[PIMPCORD]

It's a bullshit stinkier than my dump.

I even heard this when I was waiting for my brothers check-up. The people at the front desk are talking about this and warning their co-workers not to go to wal-mart at night.

BS! BS! BS!

[fatboy1185]

lol highly doubt they would target females. If they went to prison, they would be raped and killed in the first week.

[JoshM]

I have 6 texts from today about that. It's fucking stupid.

[MikeW]

Highly dubious.

[Gemini]

I went to this Jamaican restaurant yesterday after I left the doctor and the owner mentioned this to me. I didnt know if the info was credible so I told the wifey incase. Myself and another patron in the restaurant conversed about it being a hoax and they just want walmart to lose money because they one of the only ones making monery right now. By the time i got home and relaxed I received the text from my lil sis and some other friends.

[EJX_Michael]

Probably just some punks who got kicked out for riding bikes around or something, so the felt they had to retalliate... lol

I like to see that message on my phone... Our closest walmart is in a ultra-conservitave town with only internet gangstas... lol

[Julianachos]

There was a rumor yesterday about a Wal-Mart shooting.

[J-specCb4]

scary shit.... ive been to the malmart in valdosta.... and thats the only place i have been in valdosta... crazy coincidence.

[91ExSedan]

I got that message...
But, I live in Louisiana :P

No way its true.

[zack_odom]

Totally fake lol.
I got that same message in Seattle..
Such ballsack.

[greenbme89]

I have 6 texts from today about that. It's fucking stupid.

same here...

[Bcozzi71]

i got it here in jersey texted it to my mom sister and ex lol