Georgetown police are investigating two bomb threats with hostages made May 9, one at a school and the other at Walmart.

At 1:43 p.m., someone called Walmart to report a hostage inside the building, said Detective Joey Melvin of the Georgetown Police Department. The caller also said they had a bomb that they threatened to detonate. Georgetown police were assisted by Delaware Capitol Police, Delaware State Police, and Delaware Natural Resources Police to secure Walmart and investigate the threat. Delaware Natural Resources Police K9 conducted an exterior sweep of Walmart, Melvin said.

About 15 minutes later, Melvin said a similar call threatening a bomb and hostage situation at Georgetown Elementary School. Georgetown police, Delaware Capitol Police, Lewes Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police, immediately checked and secured the campus which includes Georgetown Elementary School, Georgetown Middle School, and Georgetown Kindergarten Center. Delaware Capitol Police K9 unit also conducted a sweep of the school campus, Melvin said.

As a precaution, Melvin said, Georgetown police went to North Georgetown Elementary School and Howard T. Ennis School during the investigation.

Melvin said police believe the threats were made by the same person in order to purposely cause a mass law enforcement response to each site. This investigation is ongoing and updates will be made as needed.