Lower Gwynedd Police investigating bullet and shell casing found at Wissahickon High School

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Wissahickon High School officials found a bullet inside a classroom Thursday — and a shell casing in a student’s pocket.

“We are very confident that the two incidents are not related or connected,” Principal Lynne Blair told families Thursday evening in an email.

The Lower Gwynedd Township Police Department is investigating the incidents. The school dismissed students early, citing a “security situation.”

“At no time was the Wissahickon High School Community or the community at large in immediate danger,” Lower Gwynedd police said in a press release.

All faculty members were asked to remain in the building for a meeting.

“We followed all district protocols for these types of incidents, which include heightened supervision and safety measures. We immediately contacted the police and initiated a thorough investigation,” Blair said. “Students were kept in their classroom while we spoke to and searched the belongings of every student who was in that classroom today. We did not find any weapon or any other bullets on any student.”

The bullet was discovered in the morning, Blair said. School administrators later found a shell casing in a student’s pocket, which prompted another investigation.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we took immediate steps to ensure the safety of everyone in our building and decided to dismiss our students early so that we could conduct a complete search of our building with the police. We searched all lockers, classrooms, bathrooms, ceilings, and trashcans,” Blair said.

Lower Gwynedd police officers have conducted home visits as part of their investigation. Blair told parents to be on the lookout for misinformation regarding Thursday’s incidents.

There will be extra law enforcement personnel on campus Friday and next week.

The Wissahickon School District serves Ambler as well as Lower Gwynedd and Whitpain townships.