Swatting call prompts Butler County schools to operate on lockdown
Police say a swatting incident caused multiple Butler County school districts to operate under lockdowns Wednesday, Sept. 30, following an unspecified threat that Butler Area School District was alerted to in the morning.
Emails sent early Wednesday afternoon by Butler Area and Knoch school districts indicated the threat was not credible and a swatting incident — a false report intended to prompt an emergency response.
At 10:44 a.m., the Butler Township Police Department and the Butler Area School District received multiple phone calls referencing a report of an armed person(s) and an active threat to the district. The threat was later deemed not credible. Additionally, no evidence of an armed person inside the building or on campus was found.
“We have been informed by Butler County 911 that we must enter a modified perimeter lockdown at all Butler Area School District schools due to a threat they received,” district communications said Wednesday morning. “Our families are aware of the situation. Unfortunately, we do not have any additional details at this time.”
Butler Area School District and at least five other neighboring school districts — Knoch School District, Moniteau School District, Freeport Area School District, Slippery Rock Area School District and Mars Area School District — were put in modified lockdown as a precaution.
In news releases from Butler state police and the Butler Township Police Department, agencies said they dispatched troopers to schools in their coverage area as a precaution and confirmed the incident is being investigated as a swatting incident.
“The initial report prompted an immediate and coordinated law enforcement response,” a news release from township police said. “Officers responded to the school and surrounding area, established a secure perimeter and conducted a thorough search of the building and grounds.
“After completing the initial investigation of the reported threat, officers determined that there was no active threat to students, faculty or staff and no evidence of an armed individual inside the buildings or on the school campus.”
Butler Township police said investigators are working to identify anyone responsible for making the false report. Depending on the circumstances and evidence, those responsible may face criminal charges.
“No further information will be released at this time, in order to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation,” the release said.
The incident prompted many Butler Area School District parents to begin picking up their children from school during the day, causing significant traffic backups.
Traffic could be seen backed up and down New Castle Road, and all the way down Fairground Hill Road to Whitestown Road.
