UPDATE (11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26): We have an update to a large police presence in Millcreek Thursday night with SWAT vehicles and officers on scene — guns drawn.

According to Erie County Public Safety, this was an active police search for a man with a possible weapon.

The person is described as a younger adult white male who was carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle — That’s according to the Millcreek Township Police Department.

No specific threats or criminal activity were identified, but police elected to act out of an abundance of caution and in the public’s interest.

We’re told the area involved was behind the Summit Plaza, including some residential areas.

People in the area were advised to stay indoors, lock their doors and call police about any suspicious activity, but police have ended their search.

Millcreek Police are still looking for more information about the person in question.

UPDATE (10:10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 26): Millcreek Police say they’re continuing to investigate a report of a man carrying what looked like an AR-style rifle in the area of Summit Plaza on Peach Street.

They say that no specific threats or criminal activity were identified and that, since Pennsylvania is an open carry state, the act of carrying a weapon alone is not criminal behavior.

Police go on to say that they searched the area around Summit Plaza out of an abundance of caution; however, they did not locate the individual.

ERIE, PA (WJET/WFXP) — There was a heavy police presence Thursday night, including a SWAT team, in the area behind Summit Plaza as they conducted a search for a man with a possible weapon.

Reports from the scene and video provided to the newsroom indicate officers are on scene with guns drawn; however, Millcreek police said SWAT teams will be leaving the area shortly around 11:08 pm, with updates coming when circumstances permit.

Erie County officials said on social media that the scene has been cleared and travel can resume as normal.

According to Erie County Public Safety, the search is concentrated in a wooded area. Both Erie Police and Millcreek SWAT are on the scene.

The area involved is behind the Summit Plaza between Washington and Exetor, West Gore Road and 54th Street.

This is a developing situation and we know very little, but we will tell you what we have heard from witnesses on the scene and what the county executive is saying.

We were at the corner of Washington and Peace Street, where there is a heavy police, SWAT and fire presence from Millcreek Township and the City of Erie, as well as a couple of ambulances

The entire Summit Plaza, where Dollar General is located, is roped off with police tape and they are not letting anyone drive or walk around the area. Officers could be seen a couple of times with guns drawn.

Emergency responders have been walking around the front, side and on top of the building; they also have drones flying and robots they are managing. Witnesses say the first police car arrived around 8 tonight.

The only thing a fireman on scene told us is that they are responding to an alleged gunman.

Erie County Executive Brenton Davis and public safety officials have confirmed that police are in search for a male with a weapon in the area behind the Summit Plaza.

He advised residents to stay indoors, lock the doors and call the police with any suspicious activity. Davis also said that police are concentrating on wooded areas, but no crime has been committed at this point.

Although being advised to stay in, several residents gathered around just wondering what was happening. I talked to one witness who lives in the area and saw the entire situation unfold from the beginning.

“This was pretty bone chilling for me because I’m used to a quiet community and then when this happens, I mean everyone just wants to see what’s happening,” said Alysia Konkol, a witness.


Pedestrian struck by vehicle on Upper Peach Thursday night

Again, this is a developing situation. We’ve been here for about an hour and a half and the scene has not changed much since being here.

We have a crew at the scene and will update you as new information becomes available.