ELYRIA, Ohio — A 15-year-old student at Eastern Heights Middle School is facing felony charges after police say he intentionally set fire to a school-issued Chromebook as part of a dangerous social media challenge.
According to the Elyria Police Department, a school resource officer responded to the school Friday morning around 10:50 a.m. after reports of smoke in a classroom. By the time the officer arrived, staff had already evacuated students from the area.
Investigators traced the source of the smoke to a Chromebook showing significant heat damage, along with burn marks on the floor beneath it. Police say an initial investigation revealed the student deliberately tampered with the device, mimicking what’s known online as the “Chromebook Challenge,” a viral trend encouraging teens to insert metal objects into electronic devices to produce sparks or smoke.
The student was taken into custody and charged with felony arson and vandalism. He was transported to the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Police Chief Jim Welsh emphasized the seriousness of the situation. “The intentional ignition of electronic devices poses a serious risk to students, staff, and school property,” Welsh said in a statement. “This behavior is not only reckless but criminal, and we will hold individuals accountable when safety is jeopardized.”
School officials had already issued a warning to parents on Thursday about the viral challenge, urging families to speak with their children about the dangers. Several other Northeast Ohio school districts have circulated similar alerts in recent days.
Reports of similar incidents have surfaced nationwide. Earlier this week, school officials in Arizona also warned families after students vandalized Chromebooks in connection with the same trend.
Authorities are urging parents and guardians to monitor their children’s online activity and talk with them about the risks of participating in viral stunts that could have serious consequences.