Student douses school guard in gas, pours remainder on building floor
After being denied entrance into school on Monday, a Pennsylvania high school student doused a school security guard in gasoline and then poured the remaining fuel onto the floor of the building, police and school officials said.
The student had been suspended from the school on Friday following an unspecified incident. However, regardless of her suspension, she attempted to gain entry into the school on Monday. When the guard would not allow her to enter, she then proceeded to pour gasoline on the guard and the floor, as reported by The Associated Press.
Although the student did not attempt to light the fuel, the school was later evacuated due to the smell of gas permeating throughout the building.
In an interview with WPXI, the security guard said this was not the first time he has been attacked by the student. According to the guard, the student has previously thrown milk at him.
Today’s altercation came as the security guard was walking down a flight of stairs. As he approached the bottom, he was confronted by the student who told him, “I’m going to throw this at your face.” After telling the girl “there would be a problem” if she threw it, she then threw the 2-liter sized bottle full of gasoline at him. At which point she produced a lighter and was immediately restrained, the guard said.
Wilkinsburg police Chief Ophelia Coleman said the girl was taken to the police station, but investigators were waiting for her family to arrive before they would begin interviewing her. The girl could face criminal charges, however, Chief Coleman could not release any further details until the student has been interviewed by investigators.
Neither Wilkinsburg police nor the school district have released the identity of the student.
The guard said he informed the school district he would be pressing charges against the student.
Contact Caitlin Lilly at clilly@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @caitiesmith