Lockdown: Officers Search Lancaster School

Students told to come out with their hands up

Lancaster County Career and Technology Center Willow Street campus locked down, officers search school

WILLOW STREET, Pa. —

The Lancaster County CTC Willow Street campus was locked down Thursday morning after police said they received a report of a possible active shooter.

West Lampeter Township police said they received the call right before 9:30 a.m.

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The school went into lockdown and West Lampeter Township police officers, with guns drawn, went into the school, and searched it while students remained inside their classrooms.

Police did not find anything. No one was hurt. Students were dismissed early.

Buses took students to the Willow Street Mennonite Church at the corner of Hans Herr Drive and Penn-Grant Road, where they were being reunited with their parents.

Source of the call

The call came from the relative of a student, according to police.

The person had learned about a vague threat that has been circulating on social media over the last several weeks.

Police said they don't believe there was any malicious intent by the caller, just a general concern about the well-being of students.

Students told to exit with 'hands up'

WGAL interviewed Erin Zimmerman, a parent who said her son contacted her during the lockdown.

"He just sent me a text message a little while ago, saying that there was a serious threat and that the school was on lockdown," Zimmerman said. "He hasn't heard anything. He was a little scared and said that the police were on there, en route, and that they were making the students come out with their hands up. That's all we know as of this point right now."

Another parent said her daughter called her around 9:30 a.m..

“She called me in the classroom. I mean, I couldn’t understand what was going on, but I heard the announcement over the system, telling the kids that they were currently in lockdown,” she said. "It's a helpless feeling right now. We don't know what's going on - other than a paramedic calling and letting me know the kids were safe."

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School sent message to families, community

Lancaster County Career and Technology Center sent a notification Thursday morning. It said in part:

"Good morning LCCTC Families and Community:

"Due to potentially active situation at the Willow Street Campus this morning, authorities have been called to assess the situation. While there was no active or threatening situation found, LCCTC is closing schools out of an overabundance of caution."

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Summary of what happened

• AROUND 9:30 A.M. | West Lampeter Township police get a call about a possible active shooter at the Lancaster County CTC Willow Street campus.

• POLICE, SCHOOL RESPONSE | The school goes into lockdown. Police officers respond to the school and search as students wait in their classrooms. Meanwhile, a message goes out to parents, telling them there is a situation - but providing few details.

• CLOSURES | LCCTC closes all schools in Lancaster County out of an abundance of caution.

• PARENTS, STUDENTS REUNITED | Buses transport students to Willow Street Mennonite Church, where parents are waiting.

Police release

West Lampeter Township police provided this news release about the incident:

"Just before 9:30am on Thursday 19 September 2024, West Lampeter Police were dispatched for an active shooter situation at the Willow Street branch of the Lancaster County Career and Technology Center located at 1730 Hans Herr Drive, Willow Street. Officers arrived and the school was immediately put into lock down. There was no immediate indication of a threat, however, a search of the building to verify was conducted. Responding officers immediately began to search the building while the building was in lock down. Detectives attempted to verify the origin of the initial call received at the Lancaster County Wide Communication Center. The initial search of the building resulted in the confirmation there was no immediate active threat. A secondary room to room search and evacuation of the students was then conducted. The students were accounted for and transported to the church located at Hans Herr Dr and Penn Grant Road where they were release to their parents. Other students who drove their personal vehicles to school were accounted for by staff and allowed to leave from the school.

"The preliminary investigation indicated this incident was prompted by a very general vague threat that has been circulating on social media sites for the last several weeks. It was also determined the initial call was generated outside the school by a relative of a student. At this time, the police do not believe there was any malicious intent by the caller but just a general concern for the well being of the students of the school.

"West Lampeter Police were assisted by numerous surrounding agencies and we would like to express our sincere appreciation for their assistance. Initial responding police agencies were as follows: West Lampeter Police, Pequea Township Police, Strasburg Borough Police, Quarryville Borough Police, East Lampeter Township Police, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Deputies, Lancaster County Park Rangers and the Pennsylvania State Police. Lancaster EMS Association responded with several EMS units and the Willow Street Fire Department Fire Police provided assistance with traffic control. Willow Street Fire Police were assisted by members of Strasburg, Bart, Conestoga, New Danville and West Willow fire police officers."

What is Lancaster County CTC Willow Street?

The Lancaster County Career and Technology Center is a vocational school with multiple campuses, including Willow Street, Mount Joy and Ephrata.

The schools offer hands-on lesson in 20 fields of study, from nursing and culinary arts to electro-mechanical engineering.

https://www.wgal.com/article/pennsylvania-willow-street-ctc-lockdown/62278850