Some parents of students at Hilo Intermediate School are concerned about campus safety after a March 1 incident in which a 14-year-old boy allegedly brandished a 4- to 5-inch knife at two girls during lunch.
“They pulled a knife on my daughter and my niece, explaining to her to take off her Homesteady sweater, waving the knife to them, asking them if they’re scared,” said Caseyleigh Sabate-Hauanio. “My daughter and my niece stood their ground when an adult turned the corner, and he (the student) ended up walking away from them.”
Sabate-Hauanio filed a police report and on March 2, the juvenile suspect was arrested for terroristic threatening and released to his parents, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
The case has been routed to the prosecutor’s office, which will review it and potentially refer it to the Family Court.
“To my understanding, there is a group of kids, and each school that has this type of gang or group, it’s known as the Score Gang,” Sabate-Hauanio said.
“Friday (March 3), we got a phone call that my daughter was in the office because there were threats they were going to hurt her after school,” she said, adding her daughter and niece “are afraid to go to school.”
Sabate-Hauanio shared her story on social media, and other parents have come forward to report similar incidents.
“I can confirm that a lot of the things that are circulating on social media about specific incidents have not been reported to the police,” said HPD Capt. Rio Amon Wilkins.
But Wilkins did say HPD is aware of a loosely organized group called the Score Gang.
“There is information circulating that we are aware of, of a group of younger, early teenage children, and the name Score Gang has been associated with them,” he said, noting he has heard of and seen various spellings, including SKOR, SCOR and SCORE.
“As far as the makeup and organization of this group, we really don’t have a whole lot of information,” he said. “It doesn’t appear that it’s a real organized gang per say, but we are definitely looking into it.”
A letter was sent out March 3 to parents from Hilo Intermediate Principal Heather Dansdill, informing them about the March 1 incident.
“School staff confiscated the weapon before school began on the following day, and no one was harmed,” Dansdill said in the letter, adding that a student may be excluded from campus for up to 92 school days for having a weapon. “Terroristic threats, bullying and fighting will not be tolerated on our campus, and violators will face disciplinary action and possible criminal charges.”
HPD confirmed it has 39 Community Policing personnel, including eight School Resource Officers, or SROs, who are assigned to schools islandwide.
Hilo Intermediate’s SRO was recently promoted, so the position was vacant.
“When HPD received a recent report about violence at the school, we immediately worked with school officials to provide a multilevel approach to address school safety,” said Denise Laitinen, HPD spokeswoman. “Starting this week, we are sending an officer to work at Hilo Intermediate School full time for the remainder of the school year, and are working to ensure a dedicated SRO will be assigned to the school starting in the fall.”
Another parent came forward and shared additional information with the Tribune-Herald about the incident at Hilo Intermediate.
“My daughter was not held at knife point, but she was bullied and was actually a target,” Brandy Fontes said. “There were text messages from my friend who was scared for my daughter’s life because they said there was going to be a shooting, and my daughter’s name was one being mentioned in the text to be shot at.”
Fontes said her daughter informed her about the incident the following day, and Fontes went to the police to file a report.
“This alleged indirect threat was related to the Mar. 1 event,” DOE spokesman Derek Inoshita told the Tribune-Herald. “School administration investigated, and the matter was referred to Hawaii County Police, who were already investigating the original incident.”
Fontes, Sabate-Hauanio and other parents are encouraging community members to attend a rally today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the King Kamehameha statue on Hilo’s Bayfront to speak out against school violence and bullying.
“I have numerous nieces and nephews that go (to Hilo Intermediate) that have been victims of this so-called group of kids,” said Kia Fontes, who is assisting with the rally. “It’s not just our side that goes through issues, it’s the entire island.”
Taysen Wong Chong also is helping organize the rally and said he had previous knowledge about the alleged gang.
“I know these kids, I saw them grow up,” Wong Chong said. “After talking to the individuals through Instagram and in person, it all falls down to bullying. Bullying happens in all types of cultures, but these kids were picked on from elementary time by local kids, and they feel left out of the community and not welcome, and the only way that they felt good about themselves, and to try and make a name for themselves, was to try and make a gang and show they are not afraid and actually fight back.”
Wong Chong said he hopes addressing the bullying and threats can help the community come together.
“We’re looking to stop bullying and violence, period, and have everybody get along in the community,” he said. “That’s what the awareness and rally is about.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.