Schools
CT Student Hospitalized In Suspected Social Media Challenge Incident
A student will face charges after causing a laptop fire at a middle school, according to police.
PLAINVILLE, CT — A middle school student in Plainville was hospitalized after a fire and will face criminal charges, according to police.
It's believed that the incident is connected to a social media trend in which students shove items into laptops to start a fire, WFSB 3-TV reported.
Police and firefighters responded to Plainville Middle School on Thursday at 10:15 a.m. on a report of a laptop computer fire in one of the classrooms. The school evacuated as a result, police said.
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Police said an investigation found that a middle school student intentionally stuck scissors into a laptop causing smoke to emit from it.
The student complained of smoke inhalation and was taken to a hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.
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Police said the student will be referred to juvenile court to face criminal charges.
The school was back in session in less than an hour, police said.
The incident appears to be connected to a dangerous social media trend where students force items like paper clips and pushpins into Chromebook devices to force an electrical short circuit.
Other incidents have been reported in several Connecticut towns, forcing some schools to evacuate.
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