Bomb, shooting threats made against Pine-Richland High, Middle schools deemed swatting, police say

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — Back-to-back threats made against Pine-Richland Friday morning are connected and came from a foreign country, authorities confirmed.

Northern Regional Police Chief Bryan DeWick said the threats were deemed non-credible and they are working with the FBI on this investigation. Channel 11 spoke with some parents who were very worried about their kids

PHOTOS: K-9 officers sweeping Pine-Richland School District campus

“You never think it’s going to happen to you. We live across the street and you literally can’t do anything and you don’t know what to think or feel besides be terrified,” said Alyssa Gerlack, a Pine-Richland parent.

The threats caused panic among students and their parents.

The district sent a letter to families saying the main office at the high school got an anonymous phone call around 9 a.m. of what sounded like a man saying a bomb would go off in the high school parking lot in five minutes. Several agencies responded with bomb-sniffing K-9 units. Meanwhile, many parents showed up concerned.

“It feels so real and you feel like crying,” said Gerlack.

The district said the anonymous caller called the main office again around 11:30 a.m. An officer spoke with the caller who made a threat of school shooting causing the middle school and high school to be placed on lockdown. A mom said her kids were texting her scared and hiding under their desks.

“She was saying we are secure now. We can’t leave the building but we are able to go to classes. Then nine minutes later, she said, ‘We are on lockdown. I’m so scared. There’s no internet. The lights are off and I love you,’” said Laury Stiscak, Pine-Richland parent.

DeWick said they investigated, and it was swatting calls. The district called families and in the phone recording, it states that the FBI discovered the threats were connected and came from Australia.

DeWick said out of precaution, they will have extra patrols on campus throughout the day. All after-school activities here on campus are canceled. Away events including Friday night’s football game will go on as scheduled.

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