Update on Sept 8 Chemical Incident at Benson Polytechnic High School

The teenager at the center of an incident at Benson Polytechnic High School in early September has been criminally charged with crimes that include multiple counts of attempted murder and domestic terrorism. On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at approximately 8:30 a.m., Portland Fire & Rescue personnel, followed by Portland Police officers, responded to Benson Polytechnic High School following a report of a student experiencing a medical emergency. When first responders arrived, they immediately rushed to the cafeteria. School staff were there tending to a 15-year-old male student who was in significant distress after mixing chemicals he had brought from home and inhaling the gasses produced by the mixture. The student was transported to a local hospital for further medical treatment. Other students and staff were evacuated to nearby athletic fields to be triaged by PF&R. Since September 8, PPB detectives, in conjunction with partners at the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, have been investigating this incident to include numerous interviews, follow-up on tips, review of surveillance footage and social media accounts, execution of search warrants and seizure of electronic devices. The investigation has resulted in the arrest of the male student, who is not being identified due to his age, on the following charges: Attempted Aggravated Murder, (10 counts) Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Domestic Terrorism in the First Degree, Domestic Terrorism in the Second Degree, Unlawful Manufacturing of Destructive Device, Unlawful Possession of a Destructive Device, Possession of a Weapon in a Public Building, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Recklessly Endangering Another Person. PPB and partners spoke about the case at this news conference on October 2, 2026. Anyone with information about this incident, who has not talked with police, is asked to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference case number 26-262949. More information is available here: https://www.portland.gov/police/news/2026/9/8/update-teen-criminally-charged-attempted-murder-terrorism-following-september