Several Active Shooter Hoaxes In Schools Around PA, Police Say

PENNSYLVANIA — Active shooter incidents reported at schools across Pennsylvania on Wednesday are hoaxes, state police say. It comes a day after a slew of similar "swatting" calls put authorities on alert in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Missouri, and elsewhere around the nation.

Several schools in multiple counties, including Allegheny, Lehigh, and Northampton counties, received the calls claiming that there's a shooter in the school and that multiple students were shot, state police said.

Law enforcement has been dispatched to Catasauqua High School in Northampton, William Allen High School in Allen Township, Laurel Highlands Senior High School in Uniontown, and numerous others.

State police believe that most of the calls are automated.

"We are treating each incident with standard law enforcement protocols," troopers with the PSP barracks in Hollidaysburg and Rockview said. "However, the calls are believed to be computer generated swatting calls."

Multiple private schools in the Pittsburgh area have also had similar calls, according to multiple media sources, including WXPI.

In each case, police have "tactically cleared" the school and found no evidence of a shooter or injuries.

"Troopers will continue to have a visible presence at schools throughout the region for theremainder of the school year," state police said in a statement.

Beyond this week's incidents, the “swatting" phenomenon has been increasing nationally over the last several months months. According to Education Week, a wave of the calls hit dozens of schools in at least six states in September, and has hit 40 states all told. In California, educators and advocates have been outspoken on the emotional and financial toll the hoaxes taken on children, teachers, and police.

More than 80 swatting reports across the country earlier in the school year were traced to Ethiopia, according to Education Week, citing NPR and Wired magazine.

The latest surge in calls comes just days after the nation's most recent mass shooting Monday. Six people, including three 9-year-olds, were shot and killed at The Covenant School in Nashville.

No arrests have been announced. The FBI is assisting state police in the investigation.