What to Know
- Police closed roads and the Hatboro-Horsham School District closed all schools Wednesday morning due to an hourslong barricade in Hatboro.
- It all began Tuesday night when a driver reported seeing a man on the sidewalk tracking drivers while pointing a gun at them, Hatboro police said.
- No shots were fired and the motive for the incident wasn’t known.
Police closed roads and the Hatboro-Horsham School District closed all schools Wednesday morning due to an hourslong barricade after a man pointed a gun at passing cars, Hatboro police said.
Parts of Hatboro, Montgomery County, were placed under a shelter in place order before daybreak, according to the school district. Police later declared the actions were “out of an abundance of caution.”
The school district explained around 7 a.m. that they “do not want students at any level walking to buses or to school.” They also also said that they wouldn’t be able to transport private school students Wednesday.
“An incident within an apartment located at the intersection of York Road and Moreland Avenue” led to the shutdown, Hatboro police said in a Tweet posted by the school district.
It all began after 9:15 p.m. Tuesday when a driver called 911 to report a man on the sidewalk pointing a gun at passing cars along York Road, Hatboro Police Chief James Gardner said during a Wednesday morning news conference.
“Tracking them as he went by with a gun,” Gardner said.
A police officer was nearby and responded, Gardner said. The man then retreated to the apartment and did not follow police commands, leading to the barricade situation. Police tried negotiators, loud speakers and a drone without getting a response.
No shots were fired during the initial incident and no shots were fired at police, Gardner said.
Around 7 a.m., an armored vehicle and other police could be seen focused on the area of York and Moreland.
Then, around 7:45 a.m., police in neighboring Upper Moreland Township said in a Crimewatch post that “the incident is contained and there is no threat to the public. Please avoid the area during your morning commute.”
Gardner said that the gunman — who police didn’t name — is believed to be alone in the apartment.
Police closed York Road between Montgomery Avenue and Byberry Road and Moreland Road between Penn Street and Chester Avenue.
“Residents within the immediate vicinity of the intersection of York Road and Moreland Avenue should SHELTER IN PLACE,” the police message said.
Gardner called that a precaution.
“We hope that it ends peacefully, shortly,” Gardner said.
The situation continued past 11 a.m.
Police didn’t reveal a motive or discuss the type of firearm that the man was using.
This story is developing and will be updated.
Sign up for our Breaking newsletter to get the most urgent news stories in your inbox.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.