Police are searching for four individuals involved with setting off fire extinguishers in a Greenwood Community High School hallway early Tuesday.
Four individuals — three males and one female — entered the 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 before leaving around 3 a.m. The vandalized fire extinguishers appear to be the extent of the damage, said Jim Ison, Greenwood police chief.
High school students had an e-learning day Tuesday as staff members conducted a deep cleaning of the school and repair damage. After-school activities went on as scheduled and students are set to return to classrooms today. No other schools in Greenwood Community School Corporation were affected, Superintendent Terry Terhune said in an email to staff members and parents Tuesday.
Calling the incident an act of vandalism, Terhune said school officials are working with the Greenwood Police Department to determine who is responsible for setting off the fire extinguishers. School staff members are also working to ensure all entrances are closed properly to prevent future trespassing.
The suspects appeared to be high school-age, although they obscured their identities using face masks. Detectives are reviewing video footage, and evidence technicians will use swabs to retrieve DNA evidence from touched surfaces to identify the suspects, Ison said.
Police cannot release 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 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.
