Rather than take their diplomas and put their teenage angst behind them, three recent grads of a Phoenix charter school decided to go back for one last hurrah -- which included trashing the place and setting it on fire, Phoenix fire officials say.
Phoenix Fire Investigations Director Jack Ballentine tells New Times that around 1:30 a.m. on Friday, the three former students, who have not been identified because they are juveniles, entered the Milestone Charter School at 4707 E. Robert Lee Street.
The three boys were there for one thing: to trash the place. And trash they did.
"It was just malicious," Ballentine says.
On the boys' path of destruction were 24 light fixtures, classroom
windows, and a vegetable garden, which Ballentine says was part of a
school project.
Simply breaking stuff apparently wasn't enough for the destructive trio, they tried to set the building on fire, too.
The boys, Ballentine says, set a garbage can on fire and threw it through a classroom window.
Luckily, the school's sprinkler system put out the fire but the damage caused by all the water was significant.
Ballentine says the boys were caught after investigators followed a
series of leads that led them to one of the suspects. That suspect
admitted to vandalizing the school and ratted out his accomplices.
The boys must have had a less-than-satisfactory experience at the school
-- we asked Ballentine if this was just a case of some kids who wanted
to cause a little trouble and let things get out of hand. He responded
with "well, one of the boys said he wanted to burn the whole building
down."
The boys, Ballentine says, didn't give a reason as to why they tried to burn down their alma mater.
In total, officials estimate the cost of the damage to be in the
neighborhood of $100,000. The boys involved have all been arrested and
admitted to vandalizing the school.
Nobody was injured during the fire.
It's unclear exactly with what -- if anything -- the boys will be charged.
