DALLAS, May 1st, 2013 The case of 16-year old student Kiera Wilmot is making the rounds today, and for good reason.
As Reason Magazine and WTSP.com in Florida report, Meet Kiera Wilmot is a 16-year-old student in Bartow, Florida. Before last week, Bartow High School Principal Ron Pritchard told WTSP-TV, she had never been in trouble before. Ever.
Curious to experiment for an upcoming Science Fair, Wilmot mixed toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil in a tiny 8-ounce water bottle. She was on school grounds, but not in a classroom. The student was unsure what to expect, but heard from a friend the mixture would produce non-toxic smoke. The concoction caused the bottle top to pop off and, in fact, produce smoke.
Assistant Principal Dan Durham reportedly heard the noise, investigated and called the police. The arrest report can be reviewed
here.
The chemicals were legal and no one was hurt, but the activity violated the schools code of conduct, which mandates expulsion for any student in possession of a bomb or explosive device
while at a school, a school activity or a school bus
unless its used as part of a school-related activity sanctioned by and conducted by a teacher.
Wilmots friends and classmates told reporters, She just wanted to see what happened to those chemicals in the bottle, one teen said. Now, look what happened.
Principal Pritchard agreed. She made a bad choice. Honestly, I dont think she meant to ever hurt anyone. She wanted to see what would happen [when the chemicals mixed] and was shocked by what it did. Her mother is shocked too, he said. She told us everything and was very honest. She didnt run or try to hide the truth. We had a long conversation with her.
Wilmot has been expelled, arrested and charged with possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device. Her family was unavailable for comment, but she, according to reports, will be tried as an adult.
