Lockdown lifted at Penn Hills H.S. after unfounded threats called in

PENN HILLS, Pa. — Penn Hills High School was placed on lockdown Tuesday morning after receiving phone calls threatening to blow up the school.

The first call from a young male, who threatened to blow up the school within five minutes, came around 9 a.m., authorities said.

"A young male voice saying he was coming to blow the school up in five minutes,” Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton said.

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A second call of the same nature came in moments later.

"Get everybody out of there. He didn't want to hurt anybody,” Burton said.

Burton said the school was immediately placed on lockdown, which was in place for about 45 minutes.

"We had four other officers going through the building and checking the grounds because the individual said he was coming up,” Burton said.

Several officers responded to the threats and checked the school and grounds. It was later determined that the threat was not credible.

“The youngster thinks it’s fun to get out of school. It causes concern," Burton said. "We hear from parents because kids text their mom and dad, 'We’re on lockdown’ or ‘There’s a problem.’ In today’s society, you never know.”

Investigators are trying to trace the calls.

WPXI