Breaking: Threats to nearby high school deemed false

Graphic+by+Jade+Lombardo

Chatham Communique

Graphic by Jade Lombardo

Charlotte Larson and Jada Jenkins

At 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, the University of Pittsburgh’s Pitt Emergency Notification System and the University of Pittsburgh Police alerted campus members to a report of a critical incident at Central Catholic High School in Oakland. At 10:51 a.m. the University of Pittsburgh Police issued a lockdown order until the incident was resolved.

A ChathamAlert was issued at 10:58 a.m. notifying the Chatham community of a large police presence near the high school and requesting that campus members avoid the area.

At 11:18 a.m. The University of Pittsburgh ended its lockdown after a critical incident was reported at nearby Central Catholic High School, located a mile from the Shadyside Campus along Fifth Avenue. The announcement was provided by the University of Pittsburgh Police.

As of 11:47 a.m. Chatham Public Safety has deemed the situation near Central Catholic High School as “not an active threat.” Public Safety still recommends avoiding the area.

KDKA has reported that an investigation is underway across central and western Pennsylvania into multiple threats called into schools. Oakland Catholic High School, which is located near Central Catholic High School, was also put on lockdown. At this time, these threats appear to be swatting calls or false computer-generated phone calls directed to high schools at approximately the same time Wednesday morning.

All classes and activities at Chatham University will continue as planned.

Pittsburgh Regional Transit is still running busses to the Shadyside Campus, but are detouring around the impacted areas.

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