15 year old sets school computer lab on fire after failing to hack it; he was furious after his several failed attempts to compromise the school’s network system
A Douglas County high school student was arrested and charged with five felonies Thursday morning after sheriff’s deputies caught him on campus following a fire at Alexander High School just after 1 a.m.
The 15 year old teenager whose name has not been revealed by the authorities as he is a minor, unsuccessfully tried to hack into the schools computer network. According to the authorities, the teenager had been unsuccessfully trying to hack into his school’s computer system to change his grade on a test he failed. The boy apparently got so frustrated that he angrily opted to set fire on his school’s computer lab.
The 15 year-old boy admitted to investigators that he set fire to a computer when he was caught. He has since been charged with five felonies, including burglary and arson.
“It’s very sad and tragic. He could have very easily come to one of his counselors and asked for help,” said Lt. Glenn Daniel with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department. “From what we can tell, (the student) was mad and frustrated because he could not hack into the system.”
Daniel said the young man was caught with a crowbar, lighter fluid and lighters. Several windows and doors were damaged from his forced entry into the building. He added that the offence is a grievous one, and the young boy, could be jailed for several years.
The computer lab was cleaned up and re-opened in time for the start of Thursday classes.
