A juvenile has been charged with making a false emergency call about a threat at Council Rock High School South in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, prompting a 34-minute lockdown and a heavy police response. The incident is part of a wave of swatting incidents targeting U.S. high schools and colleges, including two recent incidents at Villanova University.
According to authorities, the juvenile made a 911 call on October 1 about a crisis at the school, leading to an immediate lockdown and a massive police response from multiple agencies. However, after a thorough investigation, no credible threat was found, and students were eventually sent home with police giving the all-clear.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn calling it "unacceptable" and saying that such conduct must be addressed. The DA's office said that the charges filed against the juvenile follow a joint investigation by Northampton Township Police, the DA's office, and the FBI.
Swatting, a type of hoax report to police intended to create a large-scale emergency response, has been on the rise in recent months, with many incidents targeting schools and colleges. Researchers have linked some swatting calls to an online group called Purgatory, which allegedly operates as part of a decentralized network that carries out false shooter reports and bomb scares for payment.
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are now seeking ways to make swatting a separate crime, with State Rep. Craig Williams introducing bills that would make it a felony offense and allow courts to order restitution for the response to hoax calls. However, his proposal is not without controversy, and another bill by State Rep. Tim Briggs falls short of addressing the issue directly.
The incident highlights the need for stronger laws and regulations to hold perpetrators accountable for such incidents. As one expert noted, "it's absurd that Pennsylvania hasn't made swatting a separate crime." The DA's office has taken action, but more needs to be done to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
In related news, authorities are still searching for information about a baby girl found dead in a dumpster in 1986. The FBI is investigating and trying to identify her remains.
The swatting incidents have had a significant impact on communities across the country, with many schools and colleges taking extra security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. As one school official noted, "the fear of a school shooting is very real," and it's essential that we take all necessary steps to ensure student safety.
In a statement, Jennifer Schorn said, "We live in a society where the fear of a school shooting is very real, and it's wholly unacceptable to allow for this type of criminal conduct to go unchecked."
According to authorities, the juvenile made a 911 call on October 1 about a crisis at the school, leading to an immediate lockdown and a massive police response from multiple agencies. However, after a thorough investigation, no credible threat was found, and students were eventually sent home with police giving the all-clear.
The incident has sparked outrage, with Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn calling it "unacceptable" and saying that such conduct must be addressed. The DA's office said that the charges filed against the juvenile follow a joint investigation by Northampton Township Police, the DA's office, and the FBI.
Swatting, a type of hoax report to police intended to create a large-scale emergency response, has been on the rise in recent months, with many incidents targeting schools and colleges. Researchers have linked some swatting calls to an online group called Purgatory, which allegedly operates as part of a decentralized network that carries out false shooter reports and bomb scares for payment.
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are now seeking ways to make swatting a separate crime, with State Rep. Craig Williams introducing bills that would make it a felony offense and allow courts to order restitution for the response to hoax calls. However, his proposal is not without controversy, and another bill by State Rep. Tim Briggs falls short of addressing the issue directly.
The incident highlights the need for stronger laws and regulations to hold perpetrators accountable for such incidents. As one expert noted, "it's absurd that Pennsylvania hasn't made swatting a separate crime." The DA's office has taken action, but more needs to be done to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
In related news, authorities are still searching for information about a baby girl found dead in a dumpster in 1986. The FBI is investigating and trying to identify her remains.
The swatting incidents have had a significant impact on communities across the country, with many schools and colleges taking extra security measures to prevent such incidents from happening again. As one school official noted, "the fear of a school shooting is very real," and it's essential that we take all necessary steps to ensure student safety.
In a statement, Jennifer Schorn said, "We live in a society where the fear of a school shooting is very real, and it's wholly unacceptable to allow for this type of criminal conduct to go unchecked."
? a 34 minute lockdown that couldve been avoided if they checked the call first...and now theres laws being proposed in pennsylvania to make swatting a felony lol thats about time 
like who would do this to innocent kids? its just wrong on every level
like how can you not have laws for this kinda thing? and its not just PA either its happening in other states too so we need to take action ASAP 
. I mean, think about it, some dude makes a 911 call saying there's a shooter at school, and it causes a full-on lockdown? Like, what's next? Someone calls the cops and says their cat is on fire? 
. It's just so unnecessary, you know?
, it's just gross. I mean, can't they think about how their actions would affect people? The parents of those students, the teachers, the police officers who have to deal with all this stress? It's not cool, dude.
.
. That's so... random 
. I guess it just goes to show that even in a world where we're trying to figure out how to stop swatting, there are still these other mysteries and stuff floating around 
.
. And now they want to make it a separate crime in PA? Better late than never, right? 
. Like, get with the program, 1986! We've got DNA and all sorts of fancy tech to solve your mystery 
.
?
And now they're trying to figure out how to stop this from happening again, but some people are still doing it... 
. I just wish they'd come up with a better way to deal with these swatting incidents, instead of trying to catch the people doing it and make them pay... 
its just common sense u know? the more they do nothing, the more kids will keep getting put in harm's way 
anywayz let's hope the DA & police can catch the culprits & get justice for those schools 
. And now they're trying to make swatting a separate crime in PA...it's about time. But at the same time, I feel bad for the kid who did it - they probably got caught up in something that seemed cool or attention-grabbing online 
. We need to get rid of the online platforms that enable this kind of stuff and make sure our schools are safer for everyone 
.
... or is it? Like, maybe we should be looking at the bigger picture here and trying to address the root cause of these incidents.
. Instead of callin the cops, maybe we should invest in more counseling services n online resources 
. That way, when some kid's feelin crazy, they can get the help they need instead of resortin to a prank call 
Can you believe someone would do that? Like, what was going through their mind? 34 minutes lockdown, I mean, that's like a whole day of not being able to get out 
. And now they're trying to make it a crime, like finally some sense in PA 