Swatting call prompted 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.
A email sent at 1:07 p.m. from Knoch School District, which was also operating on a lockdown, indicated the treat was determined to be a swatting incident and was not credible. A swatting call is a false report intended to prompt an emergency response.
The email sent out early Wednesday afternoon by Knoch School District said a lockdown had ended and normal school activities could resume on the advisement of state police. Butler Area School District also later confirmed the threat was a swatting incident and not credible.
Area school districts were operating on a lockdown after Butler Area School District was notified by Butler County 911 Wednesday morning of a threat received by emergency services. Butler County 911 instructed the district to put all schools on a perimeter lock down.
“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 at the time. “Our families are aware of the situation. Unfortunately, we do not have any additional details at this time.”
At least five other neighboring school districts were put in modified lockdown as a precaution. Knoch School District sent a voicemail to district parents informing them of a modified lockdown, while Moniteau School District, Freeport School District, Slippery Rock Area School District and Mars Area School District were also on a precautionary lockdown.
In a news release, PSP Butler said it dispatched troopers to all schools in its coverage area as a precaution.
“Investigation into the threat is ongoing. Neighboring school districts may also be on lockdown as a precaution,” the release said.
The incident caused Butler Area School District parents to try and pick 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.
