A statement released by District Attorney Jim Martin on Oct. 3, which was emailed to Parkland School District parents and staff at 7:14 p.m. that night, states there was "no credible threat against any school in Lehigh County or elsewhere" regarding comments a South Whitehall man made to his Bethlehem hairdresser on Sept. 30.

According to Martin, the 57-year-old man told the hairdresser he had received "… a message from God that there was going to be an attack upon 27 schools on Oct. 1, 2013."

The message was not specific regarding names or locations of any schools, Martin stated, adding the woman did not in fear the man was the prospective attacker.

"In the contrary, she interpreted what he was telling her as a warning," Martitn stated.

Approximately two hours after talking to the man, the woman reported the conversation to Bethlehem police. She also did not to send her two children to school the following day.

Bethlehem and South Whitehall Township police, went to the man's home on Oct. 1.

Martin states the man was cooperative, compliant in all respects and consented to the police searching his home.

Officers saw a bullet-proof vest, two .45-caliber Glock handguns, magazines, ammunition and literature referring to a "Mega Terror Attack on October 1, 2013." There were no explosives found in the home.

According to Martin, some local media outlets reported there were explosives, which was incorrect.

The man agreed to voluntarily commit himself to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg, and has been under treatment there since Oct. 1.

As of Oct. 3, the man remained under treatment at the hospital on a voluntary basis and was being given medication.

"Based on the statement that he '…received a message from God,' it appears evident that he may be delusional," Martin said.

The man, who is employed by an armored carrier company and has no prior criminal record, was issued the ballistic vest as part of his uniform.

He has a license to carry a firearm and is Act 235 certified, which refers to Lethal Weapons Training in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This a job requirement.

Martin, Bethlehem Police and First Assistant District Attorney Steven M. Luksa interviewed the employee of the hair salon who had the conversation with the man.

Martin states he concluded the woman "was not threatened; did not feel threatened and reported the conversation to police only because she felt compelled to tell them about the man's comments he had received a message from God."

"From the time of the police investigation at the man's home in South Whitehall Township, and especially after his admittance to the hospital, there was deemed to be no credible threat against any school in Lehigh County or elsewhere," Martin said.

Martin said the weapons were voluntarily relinquished to the police and he concluded there was no basis to charge the man criminally with any offense under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code.

"Further, before a person can be involuntarily committed under the Mental Health Procedures Act, there must be expert opinion he is 'a danger to himself or to others'" Martin said, adding there is no evidence the man poses such a danger. "In short, there is no credible evidence to support anything other than his undergoing voluntary mental health treatment to address his delusional behavior."

Martin said he and Luksa met Oct. 3 with Bethlehem and South Whitehall Township police investigators and Parkland School District officials.

They concluded the man's continuing treatment is the appropriate course.

"Finally, much of the public concern could have been avoided with the exercise of common sense, good judgment and restraint by a few school administrators outside of Lehigh County who reacted inappropriately to rumor and caused unnecessary and widespread concern.

"The public's concerns also were fueled by some members of the local media who reported misinformation and unverified information as fact when the information was never substantiated by any official source.

"I hope any concerns of the public are alleviated, and Lehigh Valley residents – those with and without children in schools are reassured there is no imminent threat of any attack upon our schools."