SAN MATEO, Calif. -- A teen armed with a sword and chainsaw in addition to eight pipe bombs strapped to his body was arrested Monday after two explosions rocked San Mateo’s Hillsdale High School and more than 1,200 students and teachers were forced to evacuate, authorities said.
Police received several calls from Hillsdale High School beginning at 8:07 a.m. reporting that there was possibly a person with a gun on campus.
A short time later, police received more calls reporting an explosion inside the school, located at 3115 Del Monte St.
San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer said the teen had entered the campus with the chainsaw, a two-foot-long sword and 10 homemade pipe bombs attached to a tactical vest he was wearing.
He exploded two of the pipe bombs in an empty hallway near the library and the smoke activated a fire alarm, Manheimer said. There was also a power outage around that time but she didn't know whether the outage was related.
Two teachers heard the explosions, ran into the hallway and confronted the teen, who then fled, Manheimer said.
A third teacher caught up with the teen and tackled him, police Lt. Mike Brunicardi said. Principal Jeff Gilbert and another teacher arrived a moment later and helped hold the suspect down until police arrived and arrested him.
Brunicardi called the actions by Gilbert and the teachers "simply heroic."
"All the while that the teachers and principal are confronting this kid, holding him down and tackling him, he's got eight live pipe bombs attached to his person," Brunicardi said.
No one was hurt in the explosion and, despite the initial report, no gun was found, Manheimer said.
The incident prompted the evacuation of about 1,270 Hillsdale students, who were directed to the nearby Abbott Middle School in accordance with Hillsdale's safety plan.
Gilbert said there is monthly training at the school for emergency situations. "That training certainly paid off today," he said.
Classes were canceled for the day as police, with help from other agencies and the San Mateo County Sheriff's bomb squad, searched the campus to make sure no additional devices had been planted in the school.
The school district sent automated telephone calls to parents advising them that the school had been evacuated, that nobody was hurt and directing them to pick up their children at the middle school, police said.
The Police Department also sent out an automated message to nearby residents advising them to shelter in place until they could confirm that the area was safe.
San Mateo Union High School District Superintendent Scott Laurence said classes will likely resume at Hillsdale on Tuesday. He said counseling services will be available on campus to students who may be shaken by today's events.
The 17-year-old suspect was last a student at Hillsdale more than a year ago, Manheimer said. The motive for his actions this morning remain unclear but police believe he acted alone.
San Mateo County Assistant District Attorney Karen Guidotti said her office is deciding whether to charge the teen as an adult.
The damage caused by the pipe bombs has not yet been assessed but Manheimer said she believes it was minor.
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the teachers did a great job there