Slippery Rock Area School District (SRASD), Butler Area School District and several other local schools are closed today due to threats of violence.
Official communication from SRASD stated, “In an abundance of caution, the Slippery Rock Area Schools will be closed today, September 12, 2024.”
Slippery Rock University emailed the community stating that it is aware of the threats but will remain open.
“University Police and Pennsylvania State Police are closely monitoring the situations that are under investigation by the FBI,” SRU communication said. “[T]here is no credible evidence to warrant closing the University.”
Butler Intermediate High School and Butler Area Senior High School went into lockdown yesterday after threats were made on social media, according to WPXI. Some threats were made directly toward Butler or surrounding schools while others were less specific.
Shaler Police stated that an elementary school student admitted to making the threats, and they have been ruled as non-credible.
This comes one week after a deadly school shooting in Georgia. Similar targeted threats have affected western Pennsylvania schools in recent years.
The Rocket will continue to investigate the situation as it develops.
