William Tennent High Placed On Lockdown After Gun Threat: Police

WARMINSTER, PA —William Tennent High School was placed on lockdown briefly Thursday after police reported that a man who robbed a store nearby had threatened he had a gun.

The Warminster Township Police Department is seeking the public's help in identifying the suspect who threatened to have a gun when he robbed the Warminster Cigar and Tobacco Outlet at 25 Newtown Rd. shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday.

For safety precautions, William Tennent High School was placed on lockdown for a short period of time Thursday, police said.

Police said the man entered the store, demanded money, and threatened to have a gun. He left with an undetermined amount of cash and fled in a dark grey/charcoal, 4-door Nissan Rogue/Murano.

The suspect is described as about 6 feet in height and with an athletic build. Police said he was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with "Metallica" written on the front and back in the color purple. He also had on black pants and light grey New Balance sneakers. See photo below.

Centennial Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden told Patch in an email Friday that the lockdown lasted about 20 minutes.

"The first and most significant priority for the school and the school district is to implement the lockdown procedures for the safety of the over 2,000 people at the school," Bedden said.

School officials coordinated the lockdown, tried to gather more information, and discussed whether other schools might be in danger, Bedden said. He said William Tennent High School and McDonald Elementary School buses and parents were at the schools for pick-up at the time of the incident.

"We were simultaneously engaged in multiple processes, procedures, and communications with police, district administration, transportation, and five school buildings," Bedden said.

Bedden said that after the lockdown was lifted, attention went toward dismissing students to cars and buses and alerting parents, staff, and students that the potential threat was cleared.

Anyone with information or video of the area is asked to contact the Warminster Police Criminal Investigation Division at (215) 672-1000.