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Active shooter calls received by schools Wednesday around Western Pennsylvania were deemed a hoax by investigators.
Police descended upon Oakland Wednesday morning after 10 a.m. Central Catholic High School in Oakland was evacuated. Police said no active shooter was found. Oakland Catholic was also evacuated.
Melissa Viator of Point Breeze got a text from her son, Colbe, an 11th grader at Central Catholic, texted the school was on lockdown and he heard police shooting.
"I just grabbed my keys and I ran," she said.
After learning from a news reporter that the incident was a hoax, she was relieved and upset.
State police in Uniontown reported that troopers were called to Laurel Highlands High School for an active shooter threat. The threat is believed to be a computer generated "swatting" call, according to police.
Allegheny County 911 reported receiving two separate calls reporting an active shooter in the two Pittsburgh schools.
"In each instance, law enforcement is responding, but believes that these are false reports," Allegheny County spokeswoman Amie Downs said. "Thus far, there has been no active shooter found, and no injury at any of the schools. Law enforcement will continue to check out any such reports."
"Swatting" is the process of making a fictitious report of a violent crime, prompting an emergency response from armed police units to an unsuspecting location
Brian Cook, a spokesman for Central Catholic, exited the building to tell media members that the shooting call was a hoax. He wanted to quell any potential panic.
"Especially on the heels of what just happened in Nashville, we're going to try and make sure everyone's OK," Cook said.
John Frentzos was waiting for his son at 11 a.m. in front of a staging area at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland for parents of Central Catholic students. He said his son texted him at 10:25 a.m. to say the school was on lockdown and a SWAT team had arrived.
At 11:20 a.m., Frentzos said his son, Houston, a freshman, was still in his homeroom as teachers were taking attendance.
"Whatever they're telling the kids, must be keeping them calm," he said.
North Side resident Teni Odumosu received a text at 10:26 a.m. from her younger brother, who attends Central Catholic.
"I love you all. There is an active shooter," the text read.
Odumosu drove to Oakland to see her brother, who was in St. Paul Cathedral where students from the school were taken as authorities responded to the threat.
She said she's relieved that it is apparently a hoax and appreciates the police response to it.