State police investigating 'student situations' at Hempfield Area High School

GREENSBURG, Pa. (KDKA) — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating two incidents that took place Thursday morning at Hempfield Area High School. 

The district sent a letter to parents notifying them of a threat and another incident. 

The first incident "involved a high school student wearing a gas mask on a school bus who was immediately removed from school property," the letter read. "We became aware of a social media post of the individual wearing the gas mask that included text of a threat to the school." 

"The text said, 'heck with shooting everyone, I'm going to gas y'all.' He's wearing a gas mask at the time," said trooper Steve Limani, the public information officer for the Greensburg State Police. 

Police said they determined the threat was not credible. The 16-year-old student was arrested and is facing terroristic threat charges.  

The second incident put the school, as well as Harrold and Fort Allen schools, on lockdown. That's when a former student was seen "walking toward the high school wearing a costume of a hot dog, a wig and face paint," the letter read. That student was apprehended. 

"That person had attended the school in the past. They had some things they were working through that was unable to keep them with the general population at the school so they have been attending school off-campus," Limani said. 

Police said the 14-year-old was detained and is facing trespassing charges. 

Police said while the incidents were unrelated, they were both likely pranks since Thursday was the last day of school for students. 

"It was very alarming and scary for the people involved. We're in a very scary climate just in general. ... Anyone making a threat, we take those things very seriously," Limani said.  

"I don't know if it's a cry for help or what but it's scary," said Dawn Young, a Greensburg-Salem parent.  

Young got an alert on her phone just after 9 a.m. on Thursday notifying her that a neighboring district was on lockdown.  

"I kind of get freaked out, not knowing what's going on with my son being there," Young said.  

Alex Buzbee, a junior at Hempfield High School, told KDKA he was inside the school when the district went on lockdown. 

"I heard over the loudspeakers that they had a threat and were going to lock down the school. It didn't last long, and it wasn't really scary," Buzbee said.  

He said he believes the two juveniles involved in the incidents did it for "attention."  

"I just think the school did a very good job at taking care of it, the security officers and everything," Buzbee said.  

Moving forward, police said they have a warning for others.  

"This is nothing to joke about. All these things are taken seriously. If you can't understand what's going on in society today, then I don't know what else to tell you. Nothing will be taken as a joke when it comes to keeping everyone safe," Limani said.  

The juveniles involved have not been identified as they are not being charged as adults.