We’re learning more after a suspicious person was spotted in the Cranberry area last week, prompting Seneca Valley schools to be placed in a secure status.
In a letter sent out to parents, Seneca Valley says that a suspicious person was seen riding a pedal bike in the Haine Elementary/Middle School parking lot.
He was reported as suspicious because he was wearing a hat and hoodie “despite the warm weather.”
Later it was reported the man stopped at a metal shop business wearing a mask and “appeared to be carrying a weapon in a holster across his chest.”
Through an investigation, the man has been identified and charged with possessing a weapon on school property.
Seneca Valley says that that man has no connection to the district and the secure status was done out of an abundance of caution.
Anyone with any questions on Seneca Valley’s safety procedures can visit their website.
“We want to stress that school safety is a shared commitment,” the district said in a statement. “Anytime a concern arises, the district and law enforcement immediately work together to assess the situation and take swift action. We are grateful for the cooperation, vigilance and professionalism demonstrated by our safety team, School Resource Officers (SROs) and the Cranberry Township Police Department during this incident.”