10-05-2025
Elyria student charged with setting Chromebook on fire for ‘social media challenge': Police
ELYRIA, Ohio (WJW) – An Elyria student is facing felony charges after investigators said he intentionally set a Chromebook on fire inside a middle school classroom.
Investigators believe the suspected arson was part of a viral social media challenge.
The incident happened Friday morning at Eastern Heights Middle School.
According to the Elyria Police Department, a school resource officer responded to the middle school around 10:50 a.m. after school officials reported a suspicious incident involving smoke in one of the classrooms.
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Staff had already evacuated students from the area by the time the officer arrived.
The officer reported seeing smoke in the classroom, which was traced back to a school-issued Chromebook that sustained serious heat damage. There was also damage to the floor around the device, investigators said.
According to Elyria police, a preliminary investigation revealed that 'a 15-year-old student had intentionally tampered with the device consistent with an emerging social media trend referred to as the 'Chromebook Challenge.''
The teen was taken into custody and faces felony arson and vandalism charges. He was taken to the Lorain County Juvenile Detention Home.
There were no injuries, officials said.
'The intentional ignition of electronic devices poses a serious risk to students, staff and school property,' said Police Chief Jim Welsh. 'This behavior is not only reckless but criminal, and we will hold individuals accountable when safety is jeopardized.'
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The district sent out a precautionary notice to parents about the dangerous trend on Thursday. Several Northeast Ohio school districts have sent out similar notices.
'We want to make you aware of a dangerous TikTok challenge encouraging students to insert metal objects into Chromebook USB ports or wall outlets to produce sparks or smoke,' West Geauga Superintendent Rich Markwardt wrote to parents. 'This behavior poses serious safety risks, including electrical shock and fire hazards.'
Similar incidents have been reported across the country. The Bullhead City School District in Arizona took to Facebook on Thursday, reporting that multiple Chromebooks were vandalized through the trend.
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