Threats – Willow Grove Park Mall

January 19, 2017
Case 17-002655

At approximately 2:40 PM on January 19, 2017, a person called 9-1-1 and reported that someone was “going to open up fire on people at the Mall!” Numerous Police Units responded to the area of the Mall and began a search inside and out for a suspect with negative results. Two schools and one daycare in the area temporarily went into lockout status as a precaution meaning that all exterior doors were locked. The Mall was never closed and after a thorough search the schools were notified and everything went back to normal. The caller was located and interviewed and reported that what he intended to say was that a person he knew who had a grudge with another individual was going up to the Mall to fight him. The caller said that he knew that the individual had guns and although the investigation is continuing it now appears that the actual threat may have been unfounded. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Abington Police at 267-536-1100 and select option #3.

Approved for Release by: Deputy Chief John A. Livingood