A 14-year-old has been arrested and charged after an explosion Saturday in a restroom at Timber Creek High School.
The boy has been charged with arson in the first (a felony), and two additional misdemeanor offenses. The boy is a student at the school, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy's name is not being listed in this story due to News 13's Crime Guidelines.
- Explosion in restroom at Timber Creek High
- Student, 14, detained by law enforcement
- Students and teachers were evacuated
The explosion was reported just before 10:30 a.m.
Witnesses told authorities they heard a loud boom and saw smoke coming from one of the restrooms.
Students and teachers were at the school for Saturday school and a debate tournament. They were forced to evacuate from one of the buildings while bomb-sniffing dogs conducted a sweep of the school.
No injuries were reported.
"We’re not going to tolerate it if a student is found doing this or anyone was found doing this,” said Jeff Williamson, an Orange County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
The school was evacuated and a perimeter was established by patrol deputies and the Florida Highway Patrol.
Orange County Fire Rescue responded, along with agents from ATF, law enforcement officers from OCPS Police, OPD, FHP, UCF Police and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.
OCSO Bomb squad techs the State Fire Marshal and other agencies and departments responded as well.
Witnesses say they saw a person run out of the bathroom just prior to the sound and smoke. A secondary sweep of the school revealed another restroom was set on fire.
Timber Creek High School officials posted on its Facebook page that two fires were set in two separate restrooms on campus. They say video cameras helped identify the suspect.
"It's frustrating but at the same time, my son's safe, the kids are safe, said Emeka Ohaegbulam, a parent.
The incident comes a day after a student lit a firecracker before classes dismissed for the day.