ST. MARYS, Pa. – Police say a 9-year-old child is responsible for a prank call reporting an after-school shooting at St. Marys Area High School yesterday.
Elk County 911 received the call at 3:03 p.m. yesterday, indicating there was a shooting taking place at the high school.
School had been dismissed around 15-20 minutes earlier.
It was determined that the call was a hoax. According to police, an Elk County child made the call while riding on a school bus.
Emergency personnel from St. Marys, Ridgway, and Johnsonburg police departments; state police from Ridgway, Kane, Emporium, and DuBois; Elk County Sheriff; 15 ambulances; Crystal and Fox Township volunteer fire departments; and Elkland Search & Rescue responded to the scene.
Access to the school complex was blocked off, sources say.
Police are unable to file criminal charges against the child due to his or her age, according to officials.
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