Teens Accused Of Setting Laptop On Fire At Southington HS: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Two Southington High School students are in trouble with more than just the school district in connection with last week's laptop computer fire at SHS.

They're now in trouble with the law.

Southington police said Thursday morning that two juvenile SHS students have been accused of partaking in a viral TikTok trend and causing a fire with a laptop computer on May 7.

The male duo, one a 16-year-old and the other a 17-year-old, were each charged with reckless burning, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and second-degree breach of peace.

But juveniles, whose names were not released because of their age, were to appear in court May 15.

The SPD on Thursday released new details regarding the situation, which resulted in classes being disrupted as the school was evacuated.

According to police, at about 12:45 p.m., SHS' school resource officer rushed to a classroom following a report of smoke coming from a room in the building.

Police said the officer learned the source was from a Chromebook laptop computer.

A school staff member threw the burning computer out the window just before the officer arrived, police said.

According to the SPD, the two suspects stuck objects inside the laptop, which caused the computer to catch fire.

The school was evacuated, and the Southington Fire Department arrived to assist.

Police said no injuries were reported in the incident, and no other property was damaged.

"It should be noted that this incident may have been influenced by the apparent TikTok trend referred to as the 'Chromebook Challenge' which involves inserting metal objects into the Chromebook in an attempt to cause a fire," wrote police Thursday.

From May 7: ' Laptop Fire Blamed For Southington School Evacuation: SFD: UPDATE'