BUTLER, Pa. — UPDATE 3:45 p.m.: The Butler Township Police Department has provided new information on a reported threat to the Butler Area School District.
Investigators say around 10:45 a.m., the police department and Butler Area School District got multiple calls referencing a report of an armed person(s) and an active threat at the school.
Officers responded immediately, securing a perimeter and searching the school and its grounds. After the initial investigation into the threat, officers determined there were no active threats to students, faculty or staff. There was also no evidence of an armed person inside the building or on campus.
The incident is being investigated as swatting. Police are now working to identify the person or persons responsible for making the false report.
UPDATE 1:45 p.m.: Other Butler County schools, including Mars and Knoch school districts, say their lockdowns have also been lifted.
UPDATE 1 p.m.: Butler Area School District Superintendent Brian White tells Channel 11 that the lockdown has been lifted.
White said the threat was determined to be a “swatting” incident and not credible.
INITIAL COVERAGE:
State police have been dispatched to all Butler County schools as a precaution due to a threat.
At around 11 a.m., an email went out to families in the Butler Area School District, saying that they were locking down all schools because of a reported threat.
In the letter, Superintendent Brian White says Butler County 911 told him all schools “must enter a perimeter lockdown” because of a threat they received.
No other information about the reported threat was immediately available.
District officials say parents can come to pick their child up, but will not be allowed to enter any school building. Parents should line outside and have a valid ID ready. Once their ID is verified, their child will be brought out and released to them.
Parents are asked not to call the schools for updates, because the district needs phone lines open for calls directly related to the situation.
State Police later confirmed that they dispatched troopers to all schools in Butler County as a precaution, and added that those school districts may also be on lockdown.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the threat.
This is a developing story that will be updated as Channel 11 learns more.
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