An email alert from Pennridge School District Superintendent David Bolton was issued at 9:00 p.m. on Thursday and detailed important information regarding threats at the high school.
“We have been made aware this evening of reports of threats against the High School tomorrow, March 31,” Bolton said.
The school worked with local law enforcement to investigate the reports and, finding no credible threat, Bolton advised that there would be an “increased police presence” at the high school on Friday morning.
In a statement from Pennridge Regional Police Department, posted on their Facebook page, a Safe2SaySomething report was received at approximately 4:30 p.m. on March 30 from school police regarding two juvenile students who “allegedly made threats regarding a school shooting at the end of the month.”
According to the statement, one student was reported to have commented about school shootings and death in a classroom discussion. A second student named in the Safe2SaySomething report had alluded to having “plans” at the end of the month.
Both juveniles were interviewed by police. Investigators determined that the statements made had been misconstrued and incorrectly interpreted by members of the community.
Despite having found no credible threat, police advised that a heightened level of law enforcement would be evident at schools throughout the district on Friday.
Bedminster, Hilltown and Bucks County detectives, along with the Perkasie Borough Police Department, participated in assessing the situation.
The Safe2SaySomething program is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. By learning how to identify warning signs and signals on social media, anonymous tips from students, parents and others may be submitted to alert school administrators and law enforcement of threats to themselves or others.
Police Investigate Potential Pennridge Shooting Threat Following Safe2SaySomething Report
Fast action from an assortment of local law enforcement agencies allowed schools to open on Friday, but with an increased police presence out of an abundance of caution.
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Jenny Stephens
Jenny Stephens is a freelance journalist who has written for a variety of publications, including The Reporter. An avid collector of all things vintage, she resides in the Philadelphia area.
