A 44-year-old man attempted suicide Wednesday morning in Ridgway Township, causing the nearby Francis S. Grandinetti Elementary School to be locked down for about two hours.

Elk County Control let the district superintendent’s office know at about 8:20 a.m. of an incident  in the Clearview neighborhood, and that the Ridgway-based state police requested a lockdown as a precautionary measure.  

“The district’s emergency response plan was executed based on the details of the situation — an external threat,” said district Superintendent Heather McMahon-Vargas.

At about 8:23 a.m., state police notified officials of the need for additional safety and security.

District staff members made sure that exterior doors had been secure –– and that students outside the building were brought in immediately and sent directly to their classrooms, she said. The cafeteria was also cleared, and students finished having breakfast in their classrooms.

McMahon-Vargas said that classroom doors were locked, and teachers continued to teach. Administrators and staff also escorted students to and from the restroom as needed.

“Two armed Pennsylvania State troopers set up a perimeter outside the school, between FSG and the neighborhood in which the concern was located,” McMahon-Vargas said. “One Pennsylvania State trooper was present in the elementary school and consulted with the administration in regards to the situation.”

Officials lifted the lockdown at about 10:45 a.m., and the school operations returned to normal.

“There was an obvious concern for student safety, which is why FSG was locked down.  However, students were never in eminent danger or harm. Students and staff executed today’s emergency response with precision,” McMahon-Vargas said.

State police say the 44-year-old man attempted suicide at 8:43 a.m. He was taken to Penn Highlands Elk for treatment and evaluation.