PENNSYLVANIA — The Shaler Area School District has postponed the start of the new school year following threats targeting Shaler Elementary and other schools in the district. Classes, originally scheduled to begin Tuesday, August 19, will now start Wednesday, August 20.
The threats were made Sunday by 28-year-old Daniel White, who allegedly walked into the Resolve crisis center and threatened to kill two people and “shoot up” schools, including Shaler Elementary, according to court documents.
In a joint letter from the district superintendent and Shaler Police Chief, authorities confirmed that the individual responsible is believed to have no connection to the school district. Out of caution, orientation for kindergarten, fourth-, seventh-, and ninth-grade students has also been rescheduled to Tuesday, August 19.
Shaler Township and Allegheny County police are investigating the threats. “We want to keep our school safe,” said Allegheny County Police Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph. “We see across the country acts of violence, whether it’s school shootings, bomb threats, whatever it may be. Our job as law enforcement officers is to keep our students, our citizens, safe.”
White was taken into custody Monday after being recognized by sheriff’s deputies at the county courthouse. He currently faces three misdemeanor charges for making terroristic threats.
