Charges pending against Burrell student over threat that forced lockdown

A second juvenile from the Alle-Kiski Valley is expected to be charged in connection with an unfounded threat against a local school district.

Lower Burrell police said they plan to file charges against a Burrell School District student who they say made a threat on social media that prompted officials to lock down schools Monday.

On Friday, police Chief John Marhefka said the student, whom he did not identify because they are a juvenile, will be charged with making terroristic threats.

The threat was made against Burrell High School and was delivered over the Snapchat social media platform.

It sent all of the district’s buildings into lockdown Monday and required a virtual learning day districtwide on Tuesday. Students returned to their normal schedules the remainder of the week.

“A special thank-you to our Lower Burrell police SRO (Rob Acquaviva) and detectives, along with assistance of (the) Westmoreland County Detective Bureau, who worked so diligently on the investigation,” Marhefka said.

The announcement was made two days after Harrison police said they are charging a juvenile with making threats against the Highlands School District.

In that case, the suspect, also a juvenile whom police did not identify, is facing charges of making terroristic threats, causing or risking a catastrophe and harassment, according to Harrison police Chief Brian Turack. That threat also was made via Snapchat, police said.

Fox Chapel Area School District also faced unfounded threats Monday. No arrests have been announced in that case.

At Burrell, Marhefka said another Burrell School District student will be charged with verbal threats against the high school that were made Sept. 18. It’s anticipated that student also will be charged with terroristic threats.

He said that incident is not related to the Snapchat threat against the district.

“Our police department is exceptional,” Burrell Superintendent Shannon Wagner said. “It is very seldom that we have to do a flexible instruction day because of this kind of issue, but they are always on it, and we are able to proceed with our purpose of educating kids.”

She said the district is looking into ways to communicate with families quickly in emergency situations such as Monday’s lockdown. Administrators are considering the idea of an initial message to be put out to families immediately informing them of a lockdown, and the procedures and policies in place for such events.

On Monday, there was about a 40-minute gap between the school lockdown and the first communication to parents, Wagner said, because school staffers were first working to make sure all students were safe.

“I think that’s one thing we could do to help,” she said.