A 15-year-old Hilo high school student is in custody following reports of online threats to various schools in the Hilo and Puna regions on Hawai‘i Island. According to authorities, the worries began to surface Wednesday night, September 11, over social media posts suggesting the presence of a notorious gang planning activities at a Hilo school the following day. While the messages themselves did not contain direct threats, they were alarming enough to prompt a flurry of concerned calls from parents to the local police.
On Thursday, the day mentioned in the posts, several more schools reached out to law enforcement about the troubling rumors. The police presence was notably increased at school drop-off points as patrol officers from Hilo and Puna, Community Policing Officers, and detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division coordinated with school officials to ensure safety. It was during these precautionary efforts, that, the teen suspect was apprehended at approximately 7:50 a.m. by authorities.
The ongoing investigation, led by the Area I Juvenile Aid Section, has identified the individual responsible for the ominous postings. His name has not been released due to his minor status, as reported by Hawai'i Island Police.
Officials are currently engaging in a painstaking review of the case and have not disclosed the potential motives behind the student's actions. The public has been encouraged to share any relevant information with Detective Corina McLellan of the Area I Juvenile Aid Section, either through direct contact at (808) 961-2276 or via email at [email protected], or by calling the Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
