Pitt police have restored campus after concluding that a “critical incident” at Central Catholic High School was “unfounded.” Police closed down campus for about 30 minutes Wednesday morning, warning students to avoid the neighbourhood.
Students and adults from Central and Oakland Catholic schools should congregate at the Oakland Quad Cathedral of Learning, according to Pittsburgh Public Safety. They stated that both schools have been “cleared and declared safe,” and that students have returned to their assigned classrooms so that administrators can account for everyone.
They claim there is no evidence of an active shooter, but police will stay on the scene to protect them.
Central Catholic’s director of communications, Brian Cook, told WPXI News that they think it’s a hoax but are taking the necessary steps to ensure it.
According to KDKA, state police are investigating reports of active shooter threats in schools throughout the state that are believed to be “computer generated swatting calls.”
Students reported taking refuge in Thackeray Hall, a nearby University structure. Representatives from Pitt police, the University, and the City police were unable or unwilling to provide instant information.
Allen Greene, who has a child in the 12th grade at Central Catholic, and his wife Tara Greene went to St. Paul’s Cathedral after hearing about an active shooter scenario. He described the situation as “total chaos,” and he expressed mixed emotions about the computer swatting calls.