MEDIA RELEASE
Jeremy J. Costa
Hilo detectives charged a Hilo man Tuesday evening (October 25) in connection with a series of threats made against security staff at the Kamehameha Schools’ Keaʻau campus via an internet social networking website Monday night (October 24).
At approximately 7:45 Tuesday morning, South Hilo patrol officers arrested 18-year-old Jeremy J. Costa of Hilo for terroristic threatening in connection with a report of his threatening to go to the school and harm the security staff there. The threats included references to the Virginia Tech attack and urged readers to have their cameras ready. Word of the threats quickly spread throughout the community and police fielded many calls from concerned parents of Kamehameha Schools students. They were informed that the suspected author of the threatening comments was in custody.
At 6:40 Tuesday evening, Costa was charged with a single count of first-degree terroristic threatening. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $100,000 bail pending his initial appearance Wednesday afternoon (October 26) in South Hilo District Court.
Assistant Chief Henry Tavares wished to convey to the community the Police Department’s commitment to keeping the people of Hawaiʻi Island safe. “We take very seriously any potential threat to the safety of our community and children in particular,” Tavares said. “Please be assured that anyone who gives any indication of a desire to perpetrate any violence within our schools will be pursued swiftly.”
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