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Police investigate bombing at Keaau High School 04-13-04

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
EAST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SECTION
DETECTIVE TOM C. POY
PHONE: 961-2383
APRIL 13, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE

Big Island police are investigating a bombing Monday (April 12, 2004) at Keaau High School in Puna.

Responding patrol officers determined that during the noon lunch hour, someone placed an explosive device in a vent hole in a concrete wall on the west end of the school campus and detonated it.

No one was injured in the blast. The explosion did cause minor damage to the wall, but there was no immediate monetary estimate of damage.

This was the second bombing on the Keaau campus this year. In January, a homemade bomb was exploded on campus, and a 17-year-old male suspect was charged with criminal property damage in that case.

Police have classified the latest bombing as first-degree criminal property damage, a Class B felony, because the explosion put individuals in danger of injury or death.

Investigators also recovered metal fragments from the bomb site, indicating that the device could possibly be a homemade pipe bomb.

Anyone with information about the bombing or the identity of the suspects is asked to call Detective Tom Poy of the East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2383 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. Crime Stoppers keeps all information strictly confidential.

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