By David Corrigan and Stephanie Salazar
KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii: Two middle school students have been charged with terroristic threatening in connection with a fake homemade bomb confiscated at Konawaena Middle School on Wednesday.
Kona patrol officers responded to the school Thursday afternoon after a report that school officials had confiscated a homemade bomb from a student. Police investigation revealed that the device—consisting of an aluminum can with electronic parts and numerous wires—had been confiscated from a 13-year-old boy’s backpack on Wednesday and taken to the vice principal’s office.
It had been given to the 13-year-old boy by a 14-year-old boy, who is also a student at the school.
Police secured the building and called the U.S. Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Oahu.
Police say both students were arrested at the school at 2:30 p.m. After consulting with Hawai?i County prosecutors, police charged each of them at 3:30 p.m. with first-degree terroristic threatening. They were release to the custody of their parents or guardians pending an appearance in Family Court.
Shortly after 6 p.m., when school was closed, the Army’s bomb squad arrived and determined that the bomb was a simulation that did not contain any explosives.
Major James O’Connor from the Area II Operations Bureau, said this incident is a reminder of the importance of communication between parents and their children.
