MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - Two 18-year-old high school students are facing charges after police say they brought two homemade exploding devices to school.
It all started when someone phoned in a bomb threat around 11:20 a.m. Thursday at Craigmont High School, 3333 Covington Pike in Raleigh.
Police say a few minutes later, two homemade devices exploded. Administrators at Craignmont reported hearing a loud noise and then saw fumes.
"We thought it was a gun shot, everyone got in their seat." said Marcellous Jackson, a senior at Craigmont.
An assistant principal at the school was transported to Methodist North after inhaling some fumes. That principal is expected to be okay.
Students were evacuated for several hours as the Memphis Police Bomb Squad checked out the rest of the school.
A Memphis Fire Department spokesman said the homemade devices were made with materials many of us have under our sinks.
"These commonly available materials when they are mixed together correctly, can be dangerous." said Alton Simpson, Director of Environmental Health & Safety at University of Memphis.
In recent years, virtual how-to videos have surfaced showing how to make these types of exploding devices. Investigators say the videos often hide the risks involved.
"They don't show the aftermath; a lot of these people end up at the hospital, they have damage to their hands and it can be severe," said Lt. Perry McEwen with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office Bomb Squad.
Late Thursday, Memphis police charged Leviticus Lacy and Tarif Johnson, both 18 years old, with Aggravated Assault, Felony Reckless Endangerment, and Possession of Prohibited Weapon (Felony).
Police say Lacy and Johnson are students at Craigmont High School, and both were booked at the Shelby County Jail on $300,000 bond.
