9-12-24 (Update) Hilo Teen Charged Following Online School Threats
Hawai‘i Police Department
Area I Criminal Investigation Division
Captain Rio Amon-Wilkins
Phone: (808) 961-2251
Report No.: 24-083748
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police have charged the 15-year-old Hilo student arrested this morning in connection with online threats made towards Hilo and Puna area schools.
On Thursday morning, September 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., upon conferral with the Hawai‘i County Prosecutors Office and Juvenile Probation, the student was charged with disorderly conduct. He was then released to the custody of Juvenile Probation and is scheduled to appear in Hilo Family Court on Friday, September 13.
The charge stems from information received on Wednesday evening, September 11, when police were alerted to various posts on social media relating to members of a notorious gang being on the island, and were potentially planning to go to a school in Hilo on Thursday, September 12. There were no direct threats reported; however, the posts prompted many parents to contact police fearing for the safety of their children.
On Thursday morning, several additional schools in Hilo and Puna also contacted police after learning of the posts.
Patrol officers in Hilo and Puna, as well as Community Policing Officers and members of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division met with school administrators and stood by during school drop off on Thursday morning.
During the course of this investigation, police identified the 15-year-old male high school student as being responsible for the online posts. He was subsequently arrested at 7:50 a.m. upon arriving at school.
The Area I Juvenile Aid Section is continuing this investigation.
Police take threats of violence extremely seriously, especially those directed towards students and schools. We would like to thank parents and other community members for their vigilance and coming forward to provide information to police.
Police ask anyone with information about these incidents to call Detective Corina McLellan of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 961-2276 or via email at Corina.Mclellan@hawaiicounty.gov. or the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
