Last Updated on March 29, 2023
A series of what is assumed to be computer-generated swatting calls prompted lockdowns and evacuations in several Pennsylvania schools on Wednesday, including two Catholic high schools in the heart of Pittsburgh.
The hoax calls contained similar reporting threats of active shooters or bombs at the targeted schools. Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating the calls.
According to CBS News reporting local, police have stated, “at this time, all claims in these calls have been determined to be false.”
In response to the calls, local law enforcement swarmed Central and Oakland Catholic High Schools. Pittsburgh Public Safety officials directed parents and students to safe locations, and thankfully, no injuries have been reported.
Police were at multiple schools across the Lehigh Valley after hoax threats were made, with one state police barracks saying the threats are "believed to be computer-generated swatting calls."https://t.co/pVVZ2gHfEU
— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) March 29, 2023
“Certainly an active shooter is our first priority. We have resources throughout the city, county, state- certainly manpower intensive but worth the effort to make sure everyone was safe and no one was hurt,” said acting Pittsburgh Police Chief Thomas Stangrecki.
The University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University (UPMC) issued alerts to their students advising them to avoid all affected areas. The Pittsburgh Science and Technology Administration Building and other schools were placed on modified lockdown as a precautionary measure.
“City schools are on modified lockdown for the rest of the day,” according to local officials.
As a result of these incidents, hospitals and emergency officials in Pittsburgh heightened their security alert levels. UPMC released a statement saying, “Our emergency and trauma teams are always prepared to provide various levels of care and trained to respond accordingly. We have had no verified incidents in communities served by UPMC.”
Pittsburgh Regional Transit also re-routed several buses due to the police activity in Oakland.
Mayor Ed Gainey expressed relief that there were no injured or killed and emphasized the importance of community efforts to protect children, stating, “At the end of the day, this is happening everywhere, we hear this hoax is going on throughout America. Our greatest asset is our children, we got to keep them safe and we have to continue to work together.”
The hoax calls have impacted various schools across Pennsylvania, with some receiving calls from the same California phone number.
The North Hills School District informed stud families of the false reports and reassured them of their children’s safety through an electronic letter. The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators is also monitoring the ongoing investigation.
State police are treating each incident with the standard law enforcement protocols and are working alongside FBI agents as well as local law enforcement. The FBI in Pittsburgh issued a statement, emphasizing that they “take swatting very seriously because it puts innocent people at risk.”
As the investigation continues, the Pennsylvania school community is remaining vigilant ensuring the safety of their students.
