EAST DONEGAL TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- UPDATE: Donegal High School briefly went on lock down Wednesday as school officials investigated a threat made on social media. Susquehanna Regional Police immediately responded and helped the school come up with a plan which included searching students before they entered the building. "We greeted each of the students, we checked their bags to make sure no one was bringing anything inappropriate into the school," said Donegal High School Superintendent Stephen Englert. "We notified the parents, we put information out using our school messenger system which shares information by email and by phone and we posted information on our district and our school websites."
"We took it serious, it was supposed to happen sometime during the school day and that's why we took appropriate action to make sure unwanted items didn't come into the school," said Susquehanna Regional Police Lt. Stephen Englert.
The school stayed open but many parents took their children out for the day. "Just to be safe, you never know what's going to happen anymore, and I rather have him home with us to be sure," said parent Tom Horst.
While police and the district declined to elaborate on the actual threat, rumors swirled on the district's Facebook that someone has threatened to bring a gun to school, and some even claimed one had been found. School officials denied that any gun had been found on the site.
Lt. Englert said they are looking into the credibility of the threat and who made it, and said charges could possibly be filed, although he added it was too soon to say. He credited the student and parent who reported the post. "All the right things happened there to get the information to the right people," he said.
"When we look at society today and see incidents that have happened, we certainly want to take every precaution to keep our students and our staff safe," said Ursprung.
Previously reported:
Police are at Donegal High School in Lancaster County this morning, investigating a threat that was made via social media.
Donegal School District posted this on their website:
"Last evening, a post was allegedly made on a social media site. We are investigating the credibility of the post regarding Donegal High School. Police are on site and will remain on site until the investigation is complete."
Some parents are opting to pick their children up early today. FOX43 will bring you more updates as they become available.