Teen in hot dog costume, another in gas mask prompt lockdown at Hempfield schools

State police suspect the last day of school in Hempfield Area School District may have been the impetus for two bizarre, unrelated incidents that prompted a lockdown of three schools Thursday.

Police said a 14-year-old wearing a hot dog costume with his face painted as the Joker, a DC Comics character, alarmed students and staff as he walked toward the high school.

The high school, Harrold Middle and Fort Allen Elementary schools returned to normal operations by mid-morning after troopers and school officials determined there were no legitimate risks to students or staff.

“We were already at the high school investigating another incident with a 16-year-old, wearing a gas mask on the school bus and as he entered the school, who made a threat on social media. That was before 8 a.m., and then the teenager, with the hot dog costume, occurred just seven minutes later,” state police spokesman Steve Limani said.

The 14-year-old lives in the area and is a former Hempfield student, according to school officials. He was taken into custody by school police, who turned him over to state troopers for questioning.

Troopers said he was already on juvenile probation for an unrelated incident and is expected to be placed on home confinement as a result of Thursday’s incident.

“He claimed he was walking to Walmart to buy something, but we do not believe that,” Limani said.

The 16-year-old issued a threatening message on Snapchat, Limani said, along with a photograph of himself wearing the gas mask on the school bus that was circulated among students. Limani said that student will face charges in county juvenile court including terroristic threats.

He also will face discipline by school officials, authorities said.

The message on Snapchat stated: “(Expletive) shooting up the school. … I’m gassing y’all.”

Limani said the teenager obtained the gas mask from his grandfather.

“Due to recent events, people are very sensitive to these type of things and they are taken very seriously. Sharing things like that on social media alarms people today and if you’re breaking a law doing it, you’re going to be arrested,” Limani said.

“I also would like to say that the school police did a great job with the 14-year-old teenager (wearing the hot dog costume) not knowing what was going on there. It may look unassuming, but he was carrying a bag in his hand, walking toward school property,” Limani said.

Superintendent Tammy Wolicki sent a letter to parents later in the morning advising them of the temporary lockdown and school officials were cooperating with troopers investigating both incidents.