BULLHEAD CITY – Students at Bullhead City Middle School were briefly evacuated Thursday after a Chromebook laptop computer began emitting smoke in a classroom, burning internally. Bullhead City firefighters and police officers collected evidence consistent with a Tik Tok challenge encouraging students to vandalize Chromebooks by shorting out computer ports with foreign objects.
As a precaution, the entire school was evacuated in a fire drill. There were no injuries, and students returned to class about 30 minutes later as the Bullhead City Fire Department wrapped up its part of the investigation.
Six Chromebooks were also vandalized yesterday and today at Fox Creek Junior High using the same Tik Tok challenge methods, though none caught fire. Students have been identified and questioned by school officials as well as the junior high school resource officer.
The Chromebook at the middle school was destroyed, and the desk upon which it was sitting was heavily damaged. Hours later, the classroom where the incident occurred still had a heavy smell of burned metal and plastic, and was unusable until being aired out.
In addition to the fire department, the Bullhead City Police Department and the middle school are involved in that investigation, including interviewing multiple witnesses. The student or students allegedly involved face possible disciplinary action and criminal charges. Under State law and Bullhead City School District policy, parents of children who cause criminal damage to school property may also be financially liable.
“This is yet another urgent call for parents and guardians to talk to their children about social media responsibility, and the inherent dangers – and consequences – that come with poor decisions,” said BCSD Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Stewart. “These are not innocent pranks.”
Due to state and federal privacy laws protecting students and juveniles, no additional information can be shared at this time regarding disciplinary action or criminal charges. If charges are filed, that information will be released by the Bullhead City Police Department.
