Possible 'prank' prompted lockdown at Latrobe Elementary School, officials say

What police believe may have been a prank 911 call on Wednesday shut down Latrobe Elementary School as authorities investigated a reported threat, according to Greater Latrobe district officials.

The situation was cleared just before 2 p.m. and no one was hurt. Anxious parents who gathered outside the police perimeter on Lincoln Avenue were told that dismissal would happen at the normal time.

City and state police were called to the Cedar Street school just before 1 p.m. Officers searched the building after an anonymous phone call was made to Westmoreland 911 reporting a threat. All district buildings were locked down as a result.

“The agencies believe this threat may have been a prank,” district officials said in a Facebook post.

Latrobe police said they were investigating the source of the call that was found to be not credible. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-537-5526. Officers from other nearby departments assisted at the scene.

Tracy Mather of Latrobe said parents were notified of the situation by an automated district phone system. She is the parent of a third-grader.

Silverine Pirl of Latrobe, who has three children at the school, said she didn’t feel parents were provided enough information about the incident. Among a group of parents waiting outside the school, she expressed frustration that she wasn’t able to retrieve her kids as soon as the situation inside the building was deemed safe.

“The parents who are here should be able to get our children,” she said. “They’re more safe at home with their parents, where they’re going to feel comfortable.”

Pirl said she had been pleased with the district’s recent return to in-person instruction for the students.

“I think they learn better full time (in classrooms) than on the computers,” she said, but added, “After this, I don’t know if my kids will be back full time.”

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade attend Latrobe Elementary. Police remained at the school until the normal dismissal time, after 3:30 p.m.

The incident reported at the Latrobe Elementary School was a false alarm.

— Troopers Steve Limani & Cliff Greenfield (@PSPTroopAPIO) February 24, 2021