Kea’au Student Charged With Terroristic Threatening

Hawai‘i Island police have charged the 17-year-old student accused of threatening students and school personnel Tuesday morning, Aug. 9 at Kea’au High School.

The male student was previously reported to be age 16, police stated.

On Tuesday afternoon, shortly before 2:30 p.m., the juvenile suspect was charged with first-degree terroristic threatening. He was then transferred to the custody of the State of Hawai’i Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division and is awaiting transport to the Hawai’i Youth Correctional Facility on O‘ahu.

Shortly after 8:30 a.m., Puna patrol officers responded to Kea‘au High School for the reported threat involving a student that was believed to be armed. It was reported that the responsible juvenile was returning to campus after having made threat to another student earlier, in-person and online. As officers arrived, the juvenile was observed within a vehicle on campus, and as officers attempted to identify him, he immediately fled the area on foot into a nearby forested area.
 
Police immediately set up a perimeter encompassing two area schools and the adjoining forested area.   

Area I Criminal Investigation Division personnel responded to the scene to assist patrol in the search. As a precaution, four Kea‘au schools in the area were placed on lockdown.

Shortly before 10:45 a.m., police located the juvenile and he was arrested without incident. He was not armed.