ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Dieruff and William Allen high schools and Trexler Middle School were locked down Monday after multiple threats of mass violence were made to the Allentown School District, officials said.
Additional threats were made to Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, which chose to close for the rest of the day.
All threats later were found to be not credible, police said.
- Dieruff and William Allen high schools and Trexler Middle School were locked down Monday because of multiple anonymous tips of violent threats to the Allentown School District
- Lehigh Career & Technical Institute also received threats, and remained closed for the rest of the day
- Threats made were found not credible by police and are being investigated
- These follow a trend of other unsubstantiated threats made to local schools in the Lehigh Valley in recent weeks
According to police, Dieruff High School was placed on lockdown about 12:15 p.m. following an anonymous tip that a shooting might occur at the school.
Allentown police allocated additional resources to the school in response.
About 1:15 p.m., additional anonymous tips were received of a potential shooting and bomb threat at William Allen High School and Trexler Middle School. Both schools were put on lockdown and also received greater resources from police as a result.
Lockdowns were lifted in all three schools after the threats were deemed to be not credible and no active threat was found. Normal teaching resumed for the rest of the day.
"Please know that we take any and all reports of potential threats seriously, and are making every effort to maintain an environment where students and staff feel safe," a release from Allentown School District's office of communications stated.
Allentown police said the investigation continues.
"Thanks to the quick work of [Allentown Police Department], it’s been determined that these tips are unsubstantiated."Allentown School District statement
Officials from Lehigh Career & Technical Institute announced the school would close for the day following multiple threats received about 9:30 a.m., according to the school's website. According to the school, students and staff are safe and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the threats.
The anonymous tips of the threats were received by the Allentown Police Department and the school district through the Safe2Say Something crisis center and threat reporting program.
Allentown police emphasized in its release about the incident that in Pennsylvania, it is a felony to provide false information to law enforcement authorities.
"This appears to be a situation that has affected several schools in the Lehigh Valley, with a number of entities receiving calls or tips of threats through Safe2Say," Allentown School District's office of communications said.
"Thanks to the quick work of APD, it’s been determined that these tips are unsubstantiated."
Monday's action followed other recent school lockdowns and closures in the area following other threats to students
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact the Allentown Police Department at 610-437-7741.
