A threat made against Rivers Casino on Friday is being investigated as a swatting incident, Pittsburgh Public Safety officials said.
The threat shut down nearby roads and drew a massive police response to the North Shore amid Fourth of July weekend festivities.
Emergency dispatchers received the threat late Friday, July 3, according to timestamped emergency radio traffic. The caller reported a man who said he was going to begin shooting at the casino.
According to the initial radio traffic, the threat referenced a man in a white transit van in the casino’s parking garage who claimed he would enter the building with pipe bombs as an active shooter. Pittsburgh police and state troopers searched the casino and its attached parking garage, and nothing was found. Police also investigated a van matching the description, but also found nothing.
The scene was cleared and workers returned inside at about 9 p.m., roughly hours after the threat was received.
Swatting refers to false emergency reports intended to draw a large police response to a location.
No further information is available.