Police arrest 16-year-old for campus threats that led to lockdown
Police have arrested a 16-year-old student in connection with threats he made towards other students.
The initial verbal threat was made in-person, police said, and later followed up with a general threat the suspect allegedly posted online.
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The threats allegedly involved the threatened use of a firearm.
Officers responded shortly after 8:30 a.m. today to Keaau High School for the reported threat involving a student who was believed to be armed. As officers arrived, the juvenile was spotted within a vehicle on campus, and as officers attempted to identify him, he immediately fled on foot into a nearby forested area.
Police immediately set up a perimeter encompassing two area schools and the adjoining forested area.
Hilo Criminal Investigation Division personnel responded to the scene to assist Puna patrol in the search.
As a precaution, four Keaau schools in the area were placed on lockdown: Keaau High, Middle and Elementary schools, and Ke Kula ‘o Nawahiokalaniopuu Hawaiian language immersion charter school.
Police arrested the juvenile without incident at 10:45 a.m. According to police, he was not armed.
The Hilo Juvenile Aid Section is continuing this investigation. Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the police department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or contact Detective Jenny Lee at (808) 961-2279 or Jenny.Lee@hawaiicounty.gov.
Those who prefer anonymity may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
