KAILUA-KONA — Pahoa and Konawaena high schools will see increased police presence today (Wednesday) after postings on social media threatened school shootings.
Hawaii Police Department Maj. Robert Wagner told West Hawaii Today late Tuesday that police received a report at about 11:30 a.m. of a posting on social media by a male party that made a reference to “shooting up local schools.”
Although the posting did not contain a specific school, the juvenile was found to be connected with Konawaena High School. Wagner said “police will have a noticeable presence at Konawaena” today (Wednesday).
At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy was taken into custody by Ka’u police officers. He was subsequently charged with second-degree terroristic threatening.
Wagner said the boy was subsequently released to his parents as he did not qualify for further detention.
Attempts to reach the Department of Education West Hawaii Area Complex Superintendent Art Souza, Konawaena High School Principal Shawn Suzuki and Kealakehe High School Principal Wil Murakami were unsuccessful as of late Tuesday.
Police said late Tuesday they were aware of a comment by a juvenile referencing bringing a gun to Pahoa High School. Police said the responsible juvenile has been contacted and police presence will be increased at the school.
The threats comes in the wake of a Feb. 14 school shooting that left 17 students and teachers dead in Parkland, Florida. On Feb. 16, Hawaii News Now reported a social media post threatening violence at Kapolei Middle that prompted an increased police presence at the school.