Oregon teen faces serious charges, including domestic terrorism and attempted murder, after mixing hazardous chemical substances in school cafeteria; here's what we know

A 15-year-old Oregon boy is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder and domestic terrorism, after mixing toxic chemicals in his high school cafeteria. The incident occurred on September 8, 2026, at Benson Polytechnic High School. The school was evacuated following the incident.

The suspect, who is a high schooler, has not been publicly identified by authorities due to his age. He was in critical condition and was rushed to the hospital. The teenager experienced a medical emergency at the school in September 2026. Others at the school were evacuated to nearby athletic fields.

He is at an inpatient mental health facility receiving “appropriate and necessary” treatment, his lawyers said in a statement, PEOPLE reported, citing The New York Times.


While speaking at a press conference on Friday, October 2, 2026, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said that the teen was charged with 19 counts, including 10 counts of attempted aggravated murder and multiple domestic terrorism charges.

What did the investigation reveal

The teenager had mixed chemicals he brought from home “and inhaling the gases produced by the mixture, not drinking the concoction as originally reported,” the PPB said on Friday.

Hazardous gases, initially believed to contain hydrogen sulphide, were released, which led to the chaos and evacuation. It is pertinent to note that the exact substances have not yet been officially identified.

“Over 100 students and staff were triaged that day and assessed,” PPB Public Information Manager Mike Benner said during the news conference on Friday, “and at least seven of them required medical care following the incident.”

After a follow-up investigation was conducted into the incident, “concerning behaviors and statements made by the student prior to the incident" were found, Benner said, “including an interest in hazardous chemicals, explosives, and violence.”

The 15-year-old boy who is “at the center of an incident” was taken into custody and criminally charged nearly a month after the dangerous chemical mixing, the PPB and Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said.

What are the charges against the teenager

According to the agencies who are investigating the incident, the suspect has been charged with 10 counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count each of the following: attempted murder in the first degree, attempted murder in the second degree, domestic terrorism in the first degree, domestic terrorism in the second degree.

Other charges included unlawful manufacturing of a 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.


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During the conference on Friday, Nathan Vasquez, the district attorney of Multnomah County, said that the charges have been filed in juvenile court, but he is seeking to move the teen’s case to adult court. Meanwhile, the NYT reported that the teenager’s lawyer denied the allegations brought against him.