LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Lancaster County Career and Technology Center (LCCTC) closed the school and dismissed students early on Thursday after receiving a threat on social media.
The school provided this statement on the early dismissal and closure:
LCCTC Schools Closed for the remainder of the Day. Willow Street Students Meet at Willow Street Mennonite Church. Brownstown Students transported back to home school.
The Administrative Director for LCCTC said in a statement that the reason for the dismissal was due to a social media threat.
You can read the full statement below:
Due to a social media posting and out of an abundance of caution we have closed schools across our campuses today. Currently, the authorities are at our Willow Street campus investigating the threat and as of now no threat has been substantiated. Students from the Willow Street campus are being bussed to the reunification center, Willow Street Mennonite Church at the corner of Hans Herr dr and Penn Grant Road. Our Brownstown campus will be transporting their students back to their respective districts. Our Mount Joy campus and classes at the Public Safety center were on virtual today.
Thank you for your grace and understanding as we work through this matter,
Dr. Stuart Savin
Administrative Director Lancaster County CTC
Students who spoke with FOX43 said it was a scary scene inside the school. Madison Fisher said she was in the middle of an exam when the lockdown was announced.
“At first, I thought it was a drill because we talked about the things we needed to do [in a lockdown]. And when I asked the teacher if it was a drill, she said no, so I started to cry," said Fisher. “It was really scary thinking that it could’ve been real.”
Teachers and students hid in their classrooms as police investigated the threat. Some students were given tools to defend themselves in the event of a shooting.
“It was kind of a shock because I never really thought a lockdown would happen at our school," said Jaydon Groff. "But we armed ourselves [and prepared] for the worst and hunkered down.”
Luis Ortega said he rushed towards the school after his son texted him about the lockdown.
“As a parent, you just want to get here," said Ortega. "I was hoping I could get here before anyone else did so I could save my kid if I had to.”
Students were eventually evacuated from the school and sent to the Willow Street Mennonite Church to reunite with their parents.
The building has since been cleared and the threat was deemed uncredible. According to West Lampeter Township Police, the incident was prompted by a "vague threat" that had been circulating on social media sites for the past several weeks.
It was also determined the initial call was generated outside the school by a relative of a student. At this time, police do not believe there was any malicious intent by the caller, but just a general concern for the well being of the students at the school.
Lancaster CTC will be open on Friday, Sept. 20.