LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — Police have defused a bomb that a student brought to a private school for special-needs children in Lynchburg.
Lynchburg Police Capt. Ryan Zuidema tells The News and Advance that the Rivermont School and neighboring homes and businesses were evacuated Thursday while state police took the chemical bomb to a secure location away from the school and defused it. About 56 students were at the school. Nobody was injured.
Police said the 14-year-old student brought the foot-tall bomb to school in his backpack. Staff became aware of the threat and took the bomb outside.
The student was taken into custody.
The school is run by Centra. Its website says the school is designed for students who have psychological, emotional or learning problems but do not require inpatient treatment.