Update: Hilo teen charged, to appear in court in connection to online threats to schools

4:45 p.m. Sept. 12 update: 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.

At 10 a.m. the student was charged with disorderly conduct, according to the Hawai‘i Police Department.

The student was then released to the custody of Juvenile Probation and is scheduled to appear in Hilo Family Court on Sept. 13.

Original post: A 15-year-old boy was taken into custody in connection with online threats made toward Hilo and Puna area schools.

On Wednesday evening, Hawai‘i police were alerted to various posts on social media relating to members of a notorious gang being on the island and potentially planning to go to a school in Hilo on Thursday.

There were no direct threats reported, however, the posts prompted many parents to contact police, fearing for the safety of their children.

This morning, several additional schools in Hilo and Puna also contacted police after learning of the posts.

Patrol officers in Hilo and Puna, Community Policing Officers and members of the Area I Criminal Investigation Division met with school administrators and stood by during school drop-off this morning.

During this investigation, police identified a 15-year-old high school student as being responsible for the online posts. He was arrested at 7:50 a.m. upon arriving at school.

The Area I Juvenile Aid Section is continuing this investigation.

In a press release issued this morning, police stated they take threats of violence extremely seriously, especially those directed toward students and schools.

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.