Portland teen faces terrorism, attempted murder charges after chemical scare in school cafeteria

A chemical scare in an Oregon high school cafeteria that left a student in critical condition turned into a case of domestic terrorism and attempted murder against the same teenager that school staff rushed to save.

The 15-year-old Benson Polytechnic High School student faces 19 charges after authorities say he brought chemicals from home and mixed them inside the Portland school on Sept. 8, releasing toxic gases endangering students and staff.

“Safety in our schools is not something that can be negotiated,” Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said during an Oct. 2 news conference.

“This violence or this threat of violence in a school…it doesn’t just stay in that building. It follows families to their homes. It sits at the table with them.”

Investigators found “concerning behaviors and statements” before the incident, including an interest in dangerous chemicals, explosives and violence, said Mike Benner, public information officer for the Portland Police Bureau.

The teen, whose name has not been released due to his age, faces 10 counts of attempted aggravated murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, one count of attempted second-degree murder, one count of first-degree domestic terrorism and one count of second-degree domestic terrorism.

Additional charges include unlawful making and possession of a destructive device, possession of a weapon in a public building, unlawful use of a weapon and recklessly endangering another person.

The teen’s lawyers denied the allegations and said he was being treated at an inpatient mental health facility, The New York Times reported.

Vasquez said his office would seek to move the case from juvenile court to adult court, with a focus on the safety of students and staff.

“And I want to be clear, these are teenagers, but they are children and they deserve a safe environment,” he said.

But the prosecutor sharply criticized what he called a broader failure of Oregon’s juvenile justice system, which ends supervision at age 25 even if the person still poses a danger to the public.

“I think it’s wrong,” Vasquez said, arguing that the threshold doesn’t take into account the danger that someone convicted of multiple murders or domestic terrorism might still present.

“I look at the behaviors, how dangerous they are and what I consider to be safe for the community going forward,” he said.

The chemical incident occurred shortly before 8:30 a.m. when many students and staff were near the teenager, deputy head of investigations Franz Schöning said.

Teachers and administrators moved students away while the school nurse began treating the teen before first responders arrived. He was taken to hospital in critical condition but survived.

“Those first moments were crucial to preventing further damage and loss of life,” Schoening said.

More than 100 students and staff were assessed after their evacuation, and at least seven required medical treatment following the incident, he said.

Sgt. Jim DeFrain, who is overseeing the investigation and the Metropolitan Explosive Disposal Unit, said initial tests indicated the presence of hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas.

A team from the Oregon National Guard agreed with that assessment. Samples were sent to an FBI laboratory for further testing, with results still pending at the time of the briefing, DeFrain said.

The FBI was also examining electronic equipment seized during the searches.

Vasquez said the investigation remains open and anyone else suspected of criminal involvement could face charges.

“If we determine or find any connections, if there are people who can be charged, this office will charge them,” he said.