V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea has confirmed the arrest of eight juveniles on St. Thomas in connection with recent bomb threats targeting local schools.
The minors are charged with making a series of bomb threats over the past two weeks, directed to 911 emergency dispatch, targeting multiple schools including Charlotte Amalie High School and Lockhart K-8. These threats caused evacuations, lockdowns, and significant disruption across the St. Thomas District.
Under Virgin Islands Code, Title 14 §2142, making a bomb hoax is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The investigation was led by the V.I. Police Department with support from the V.I. Department of Justice, according to a press release announcing the arrests Thursday. Detectives successfully identified and apprehended the individuals suspected to be responsible, it said.
The suspects are juveniles, so their identities are being withheld.
Working closely with investigators, the Attorney General’s Office filed a series of motions to remand the suspects to custody and expedite hearings related to the matter, according to the release.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. praised the coordinated response and called for strong accountability in the case.
“I want to thank Attorney General Rhea, Commissioner Brooks, the detectives of the Juvenile Bureau and every investigator and first responder who worked quickly and professionally to bring us to this point,” Bryan said in a statement. “Let me be very clear. Calling in a bomb threat to a school is not a prank. It is a serious crime that has terrorized our classrooms, frightened our students and educators, and pulled critical resources away from real emergencies. I fully support the Attorney General’s efforts to remand these suspects and to prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law. Our children and our community deserve to know that we will not tolerate anyone who threatens the safety of our students, faculty and staff.”
Rhea commended the swift and effective action taken by VIPD and the partnership between agencies.
“This is an exceptional example of diligent police investigators working in close coordination with the Attorney General’s Office to ensure the safety of our schools and our community,” Rhea said. “I want to personally thank those who were instrumental in this effort, including DOJ Chief Deputy Ian Clement, DOJ Criminal Division Chief Timothy Perry, Assistant Attorneys General Dianne Russell and Madeleine James, VIPD Detective Jahbari Burton of the Juvenile Bureau and I give the highest praise to VIPD Commissioner Mario Brooks for his outstanding leadership in this effort.”
The Attorney General’s Office noted that the consequences for disrupting local school operations are serious “and will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.” Suspects will face multiple felony charges, including: Bomb Hoax (14 V.I.C. §2142), False Reporting First Degree (14 V.I.C.§2147), Conspiracy (14 V.I.C.§551), Cyber Harassment (14 V.I.C. §465), and Disturbance of the Peace/Threats (14 V.I.C. §622), it said.
The investigation is ongoing.