PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 4 (Our Oregon Times) — A 15-year-old Benson Polytechnic High School student faces 19 charges, including attempted murder and domestic terrorism, after a Sept. 8 chemical incident at the Portland, Oregon, school, according to the Portland Police Bureau.
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said prosecutors filed the case in juvenile court. Authorities announced the charges on Oct. 2, when the teenager appeared in court. His lawyers denied the allegations at that appearance, The New York Times reported. Police are withholding his name because of his age.
The case involves both allegations about what the student intended to do and laboratory testing to identify the gases. The charges are accusations, not findings of guilt.
What do investigators say happened?
Police say the student brought chemicals from home, mixed them at school and suffered a medical emergency after breathing gases released by the mixture. KPTV/Gray News reported that the mixing happened in the cafeteria.
Police initially said the student had swallowed the mixture. They later corrected that account, saying he inhaled the gases and did not drink it. The bureau said its investigation led to his arrest.
At the Oct. 2 court appearance, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman alleged that the student arrived wearing gloves and goggles, tried to combine chemicals and passed out as a cloud formed. Zimmerman said the student was attempting to make hydrogen sulfide.
What is known about the chemicals?
At an Oct. 2 briefing, Sgt. Jim DeFrain, supervisor of the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit, said initial testing indicated hydrogen sulfide. Samples had been sent to an FBI laboratory, and the results were pending at that time.
KOIN reported that prosecutors identified both hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide during the hearing. Those statements were prosecution allegations; DeFrain’s account described a preliminary test indication rather than a final laboratory result.
An unnamed Metro Explosive Disposal Unit sergeant earlier described investigators as having a “pretty good theory” about the chemicals, KGW reported. Portland Fire & Rescue Chief Lauren Johnson described a “pungent smell,” according to KOIN.
How did the incident affect the school?
“Over 100 students and staff were triaged that day and assessed,” Portland Police Bureau Public Information Manager Mike Benner said. Triage is an initial assessment of who needs medical attention. Benner said at least seven required medical care following the incident.
The school was evacuated to nearby athletic fields, People reported. KATU also reported students gathering on the fields. Classes were canceled for one day, according to KGW.
Investigators believe the student acted alone, and police say there is no ongoing threat to the school community or the public.
What charges does the student face?
The Police Bureau lists 10 counts of attempted aggravated murder. It also lists one count each of attempted murder in the first degree and attempted murder in the second degree.
The remaining seven counts are:
- Domestic terrorism in the first degree.
- Domestic terrorism in the second degree.
- Unlawful manufacturing of a destructive device.
- Unlawful possession of a destructive device.
- Possession of a weapon in a public building.
- Unlawful use of a weapon.
- Recklessly endangering another person.
The list includes accusations concerning attempted killings, terrorism, weapons and the risk posed to another person. It does not mean the teenager has been convicted of any of those offenses.
What has happened in court?
Vasquez said he was seeking to move the case from juvenile court to adult court. That is a request to change the court handling the prosecution, not a finding that the student committed the alleged acts.
KPTV reported that the teenager was released to his father for treatment and that prosecutors sought a rehearing of that decision.
