Gault
The trio of teenagers have been charged by law enforcement investigators with possession of a weapon on school property and reckless endangerment, according to Bob Gault, media relations coordinator for Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.
A soft drink bottle was determined as the vessel where chemicals were mixed then reacted, causing the explosion.
The incident occurred after the breakfast period in the cafeteria at the school.
Gault said school resource officers began an investigation at the school around 9:30 a.m., when the soft drink bottle device exploded inside a trash can.
Gault said Tuesday morning the device exploded, causing a “loud boom and smoke.”
No injuries were reported at the school; however, Cleveland Fire Department officials responded to the school to make sure no chemical residue or fumes were present inside the building.
“An investigation led by SROs revealed two students brought household chemicals and a plastic soft drink bottle to school. They combined the items in the bottle and gave it to a third student who tossed it into a trash container,” Gault said.
Gault said the chemicals reacted, causing the explosion.
“SROs and school administrators quickly identified those involved,” Gault said. “Two 14 year-old students and one 15 year-old have been charged with possession of a weapon on school property and reckless endangerment,” Gault said.
“The students told investigators they learned about the device in a YouTube video,” he added.
All three were transported to the Bradley County Juvenile Detention Center after the investigation was completed, according to Gault.
