Teen Charged After Fireworks Incident Inside Morgan Park High School

A 16-year-old is facing a felony charge after he allegedly set off fireworks and injured at least one student inside a Far South Side high school earlier this week.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

The teen, whose name has not been publicized, has been charged in juvenile court with one felony count of attempted arson inside Morgan Park High School, where at least one student was hospitalized.

An Instagram video that captured the incident at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday shows students yelling and running through smoke-filled hallways after the fireworks were set off. A second, similar incident occurred a day later when yet another firework was set off inside the building.

Chicago Public Schools officials say Morgan Park High School was not evacuated either day, but was placed on a “soft lockdown” Wednesday out of “an abundance of caution.”

The district notified families in multiple letters inviting them to attend a meeting for parents Thursday night.

"We have kids that’s coming to school to get an education,” one parent said at that meeting, according to ABC-7. “They cannot get an education if you’ve got these other ones out here just trying to create havoc.”

Chicago police say the suspect was seen on surveillance footage running through the school and throwing fireworks and was later identified by school administrators. He turned himself in to police Wednesday evening. Aggravated arson is a Class X felony and carries a possible sentence of six to 30 years in prison.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


Related:

Chicago Teen Charged in Trio of Carjackings

Oak Park and River Forest Teen Charged With Sending Swastika to Classmates

Police: Off-Duty Officer Shoots Would-Be Carjacker


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors