Note: This story contains a description of suicide. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
A 15-year-old Benson Polytechnic High School student is facing multiple felony charges, including domestic terrorism, after allegedly releasing toxic chemicals inside the school last month.
Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Franz Schoening addresses reporters at a press conference on Oct. 2, 2026. A Benson Polytechnic High School student faces multiple charges, including domestic terrorism, for an alleged chemical attack at school.
Joni Land / OPB
Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said in a Friday press conference that his office will seek to try the child as an adult.
The teenager will face 19 charges total, a Multnomah County Circuit Court spokesperson told OPB.
Those charges include:
- One count of domestic terrorism in the first degree
- One count of domestic terrorism in the second degree
- 10 counts of attempted aggravated murder
- One count of attempted murder in the first degree
- One count of attempted murder in the second degree
- Unlawful manufacturing a destructive device
- Unlawful possession of a destructive device
- Possession of a weapon in a public building
- Unlawful use of a weapon
- Reckless endangering of another person
The student arrived for his initial appearance at the Multnomah County Juvenile Justice Center on Friday. The small courtroom was packed with his family members, reporters and representatives from the District Attorney’s office and the Portland Police Bureau.
The student entered the courtroom wearing a blue button-up shirt, jeans and slip-on shoes. He spent most of the hearing quietly observing his surroundings. Stuffed animals and children’s books decorated the front of the judge’s bench.
OPB is not disclosing the student’s name because he is a minor and has not been convicted.
In court, Deputy District Attorney Eric Zimmerman described the events leading up to the alleged attack: how the student arrived at school wearing gloves and goggles. He allegedly attempted to combine different chemicals inside the school, eventually passing out as a cloud billowed from the concoction.
He said the student attempted to make hydrogen sulfide, which is toxic. Multiple staff members and students reported trouble breathing and headaches.
Zimmerman said the student had written extensively on social media about feelings of suicide and his desire to hurt fellow students. Police found multiple dangerous chemicals. He also said that, on Friday morning, officials with the FBI had found numerous references on the student’s devices to 764, an extremist group that officials say works to exploit minors online into committing violent crimes.
Joe Mitacek, vice principal at Benson High, also addressed the court and said the school is still feeling the impact.
“The impact of our student body has been one of terror,” Mitacek said. “It’s been hard to get kids to return to school.”
At the later press conference, Vasquez said that if teachers and staff had not acted quickly to remove students from the situation, the end result could’ve been much worse.
“I’m a firm believer in compassion and accountability and being empathetic, but those two things are not mutually exclusive,” Vasquez said. “We can have empathy, but we also must make sure that we have an accountable system that makes sure that our students and our schools are safe going forward.”
Attorneys for the student denied all the allegations, and said in a statement Friday that the boy is “receiving appropriate and necessary mental health treatment.”
“Unlike the adult criminal system, juvenile court is structured to prioritize the individual needs of young people and to promote rehabilitation and healing,” the attorneys wrote. “The family is grateful that no one else was injured and for the swift intervention of school staff and first responders. They ask for privacy at this time so they may focus on their child’s recovery.”
At the hearing, Juvenile Hearings Referee Kristine Almquist said the student would be released to the Parry Center for Children in Portland, where he’s been receiving mental health treatment.
Zimmerman requested a hearing to reconsider Almquist’s decision in front of a judge, which is set for next Tuesday.
Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, Ore., on Feb. 28, 2025.
Natalie Pate / OPB
