UPDATE: 12:23 pm. March 7
Greenwood police are searching for four individuals involved with setting off fire extinguishers in a Greenwood high school hallway overnight.
Four individuals — three males and one female — entered Greenwood Community High School through a door that was propped open near the band area around 12:44 a.m. Tuesday. Inside the building, the individuals discharged multiple fire extinguishers, said Jim Ison, Greenwood police chief.
The individuals stayed in the building for around two hours, leaving the building around 3 a.m. The fire extinguishers were the extent of the damage, Ison said.
Detectives are reviewing video footage, and evidence technicians will use swabs to retrieve DNA evidence from touched surfaces to identify the suspects. The individuals obscured their identities using face masks, though they appeared to be high school age, he said.
For now, police cannot release any of the security footage as the individuals could be juveniles. But police were able to give out descriptions of the individuals.
The female has red hair, and was wearing a gray sweatshirt and light-colored sweatpants or khakis. One of the males had a gray sweatshirt and a yellow baseball cap, another male was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark sweatpants and the third male was wearing a gray and black striped sweatshirt with gray pants, Ison said.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Greenwood Police Department at 317-882-9191.
Once caught, the individuals will likely be charged with criminal mischief and criminal trespass, Ison said.
School staff members are also working to ensure all entrances are closed properly to prevent future trespassing, Greenwood Community School Corp. Superintendent Terry Terhune said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Greenwood Community High School students are having an e-learning day today after fire extinguishers were set off in a school hallway overnight.
School staff will use the day to conduct a deep cleaning of the school and repair any damage, Greenwood Community School Corp. Superintendent Terry Terhune said via email.
Calling the incident an act of vandalism, Terhune said school officials are working with the Greenwood Police Department to determine who is responsible for the fire extinguishers being set off and the sequence of events that occured.
More information will likely be available later this morning, Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison said.
Greenwood school officials sent parents and staff members an email Tuesday morning, alerting them of the virtual day. All after-school activities and practices are still scheduled to take place as planned, and all other buildings in the school district are open, the email said.
Greenwood High School students are scheduled to return to class Wednesday, Terhune said.
People with information about the incident are encouraged to contact the Greenwood Police Department at 317-882-9191.
This story will be updated when more information is made available.
