Kamehameha student arrested for bringing ‘starter pistol’ to Keaau campus

Police arrested and charged a 17-year-old boy after he allegedly brought a handgun to the Kamehameha Schools campus in Keaau on Tuesday.

At about 3 p.m., officers responded to a report of a student possibly in possession of a revolver at the high school campus. Arriving officers learned that school security already detained the juvenile suspect and had retrieved a revolver from the student.

School administrators learned of the handgun via a social media post with a photograph of the juvenile suspect with the revolver. After seeing the post, administrators became concerned for the safety of the students and faculty, and campus security took the revolver from the student.

According to police, the juvenile did not brandish the firearm at anyone and Kamehameha Schools wasn’t locked down during this incident.

The student was arrested and charged for first-degree terroristic threatening, A Class C felony, and disorderly conduct, a petty misdemeanor.

The pistol was determined to be a “starter gun” of the type used for foot races that can only fire blanks. However, the revolver resembled an authentic handgun.

“Though this firearm was not loaded or operational, we treat these types of threats to our schools seriously and will aggressively prosecute these types of incidents,” said Puna District Captain Scott Amaral.

Police encourage students to immediately report to an adult if someone they know has brought a weapon on campus.

Anyone with relevant information on this incident is asked to call the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.