‘Incendiary device’ found at ECHS, juvenile charged

By DEUCE NIVEN

tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com

     A young East Columbus High School student has been charged with possession of a weapon on mass destruction on educational property after a “homemade incendiary device” and a “large steak knife” were found on the Lake Waccamaw campus Thursday.

     Detectives believe the 14 year-old female student intended to harm two fellow East Columbus students, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Tatum said in a news release Thursday night.

     School officials were told that the student could be in possession of an incendiary device at about 1 p.m. Thursday, Tatum said. A School Resource Officer located the device, similar to a Molotov cocktail, on campus, then located the student, who had the steak knife with her, Tatum said.

     Additional charges are anticipated, Tatum said, adding that “No additional information can be released about the juvenile.”

     Updates on this story will be posted here as events warrant. Look for the full story in the next Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.