UPDATE: September 23 at 6:00 p.m.
KENNEWICK, Wash. – Kennewick Police Department (KPD) has offered an update on the investigation.
KPD, alongside Hanford Site Patrol, said it conducted a safety sweep using a firearms detection K9 and no weapons were found on the campus.
Investigators want to clarify public confusion regarding the juvenile suspect’s charge, RCW 9.61.160, which includes “threats to bomb or injure property.”
This charge covers threats to harm others at a school, not just bomb threats.
There’s no there evidence that the suspect in this case intended to use an explosive device, KPD said.
The suspect remains in custody, and there is no current threat to Kamiakin High School or the public.
KENNEWICK, Wash. – A threat against Kamiakin High School led to the arrest of a juvenile on Saturday, September 20, Kennewick Police Department (KPD) announced in a release.
The FBI office in Seattle first alerted a KPD nightshift patrol sergeant on Friday, September 19, after receiving information from a social media user about the threat. The FBI office in Florida had initially notified their Seattle counterparts before reaching out to KPD.
KPD working with the FBI, said they identified the juvenile suspect residing in the Kennewick area.
By Saturday evening, KPD detectives and patrol units, alongside the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, located and arrested the suspect at their residence.
A search warrant was executed, leading to the recovery of evidence pertinent to the investigation. The family of the suspect cooperated fully with law enforcement, KPD said.
The juvenile now faces charges including attempted assault, felony harassment and threats to bomb or injure property.
KPD emphasized the importance of community vigilance. “This is a great example of a citizen seeing something online and reporting the incident to law enforcement,” said KPD. “We are grateful the initial reporting party followed the mantra, ‘See something, say something.'”
ORIGINAL COVERAGE: September 21 at 3:00 p.m.
