Investigators with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that two students at the school, Ryan Travis Faircloth, 16, of Autryville, and Justin Thomas Irving, 16, of Clinton, were charged with possession of explosive device (weapon) on school grounds late last week.
Because Faircloth and Irving are listed in reports as juveniles, limited background information was available on the two young men. In actuality, anyone 16 or older is not considered a juvenile and their names can be listed on incident and arrest reports.
In an interview, Sheriff’s Capt. Julian Carr noted that the two brought items from their home and built the small explosive in a locker room of the school the morning of March 16. At some point, it went off, he said.
“There were no injuries,” Carr said Tuesday.
“They brought stuff from home and put it together inside the bathrooms of the locker room at the school. All of it was made from household products ... and to our knowledge, it wasn’t that big of an explosion.”
A motive for the incident was not clear.
What is clear, though is that Faircloth and Irving were each placed under $1,500 unsecured bonds for the charges against them. They both have trial dates of May 5.
Because of Easter break, no one at Sampson County Schools could be reached to determine if Faircloth and Irving are still among the student population.
To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 139 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.
Unfortunately, this is not the posting I had written earlier to voice my opinion. The SI felt it was better to save your feelings.
Second, I will not apology for calling you an idiot and stereotype your beloved Midway area. I call it like I see and if you had read any of the other postings in the SI, you will see I don't pull any punches. I don't show favoritism.
Third, you say I sit behind the safety of my PC as if I'm a coward. Sir/ma'am or whatever you claim to be, if you haven't noticed yet, there are not a lot of people on here who give out their true idendity, including yourself might I add. This an opinionated forum set up by the SI where people can express the views without judgement. The comment section in the SI does a great service, but obviously you're still struggling with that.
I also see you have a problem with my brutal honesty. Sorry, once again, what you see is what you get. I am pompus, arrogant, opinionated, rude, and straight to the point. I guess you never met anyone like me before, but that's understandable. Most people in the area where you and I grew up are spineless cowards. They hate confrontation and debate. They would rather stab you in the back that face you. I have the upmost respect that you would come on here and debate me or anyone else, but don't think I would ever make it easy for you. I can tell you're immature because you haven't experienced life past Myrtle Beach or what ever school you attend, but it's not your fault. You grew up being restrained by your parents. I have to admit you can put two sentences together and form a complete thought. That puts you ahead of your fellow Midway citizens, but don't put your packet into Georgetown University just yet.
Thanks for all the encouragement to an early grave. You are so kind!
It did work properly the intent is for the bottle to expand and burst due to the chemical reaction between the aluminum foil and the toilet bowel cleaner.
(The ONLY damage that can be done is if any debris from the bottle struck you.)
That would cover ANYTHING in the bottle!
I don’t claim to be a weapons expert but I know how to do research. I paid full attention in chemistry class I have always been an A-B student! There is a huge difference between a fertilizer bomb and what these boys did. Again I go back to the fact that you obviously have an extreme hatred for anyone from the Midway district. You make NO apologies for calling me an idiot or stereotyping anyone who lives in this district as from being from a shallow gene pool! It is obvious that you are a pompous, opinionated person or persons who thrive on sitting behind the safety of your pc while degrading other people and passing your judgment on to everyone.
You wrote....
These kids had a drink bottle, aluminum foil, and toilet bowl cleaner. The ONLY damage that can be done is if any debris from the bottle struck you. The boys placed it in a bathroom stall, last time I checked this is closed on four sides. There was no intent to cause any property damage or physical harm, and neither took place.
You are kidding me right? Again, you downplay what could have potentially happened if it had worked properly. How can you say there was no intent to damage property? That's exactly what they were trying to do. Otherwise they could have tried it in their bathroom at home. What if someone had recieved chemical burns and been permenantly disfigured? Would it still not be a big deal to you? Might I remind you that the federal building in Oklahoma City was brought down with a combination of fertilizer(ammonium nitrate) and a highly volatile racing fuel (nitromethane). So, MHS students, don't be alarmed when you see these two boneheads drive up to school with a truck bed full of fertilizer. I am sure there is no intent to cause property damage or death for that matter.
"character." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009.2 a: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual b (1): a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories
Merriam-Webster Online. 17 April 2009
First, I did graduate from Midway. I did not have money thrown at me. I did learn to be a God-fearing, Christian woman. I did learn about taking the responsibility of my actions at a young age, just like all other teenagers do regardless of where they live. Also, I personally know the majority of the young men and women who have died or were seriously injured on our roadways from Midway in the last 10 years.
I do not appreciate MsSampco's assumption that all Midway students are how she describes them. Please do not judge all Midway students by the actions of only a few. Also, you should have more respect for the people who have lost their loved ones in vehicle accidents and/or had their entire lives changed due to accidents that Midway students were involved in. My life is one that has been personally changed. Yes, my family member made a stupid mistake on the road. It cost him a lot. But it was not due to his stupidity. It was not due to faults by his parents. It was not due to drinking alcohol or drugs. It was a human mistake, which last I checked we all make, whether we are from the Midway community or elsewhere.
By writing this, I am not trying to "downplay" what has happened in this community. I have been voicing my opinion for years about how Midway students have to take driving and all their actions more seriously. But that also applies to all youth. It is very unfortunate the Midway community has been affected more than other areas in our county. But that is no reason to belittle that community. IT IS a reason to PRAY for all the Midway teenagers -- pray for their safety, pray for their understanding that they are not invisible, pray for their understanding that their actions have consequences that can affect many more lives than their own. But do not belittle them. That is a disservice by you as a fellow human being.
MsSampco, to more effectively get your point across, I advice you direct it toward all the people of this world. You are not going to "help" anyone by downgrading an entire community. All you are doing is sounding like a pompious idiot who has a problem with the Midway community. But I can tell by the passion in your words that you do care about what happens to these people and how it has negatively affected their lives and their community. Remember the Christians morals you hopefully learned as a child and use that passion you have to more effectively get your point across. You will do much better "helping" people that way than in the negative manner you have proposed your ideas previously.
God bless.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that sounds to me like you are trying to downplay the significance of this incident. Again, the typical mentality that comes from this area. The list goes on and on of "mishaps" of MHS students involving vehicles, ATVs, guns, fire, and now bombs. I ask you MHSGrad, how many other high schools in Sampson County have statistics equivalent to MHS? I am not judging character, I am judging the lack of common sense here. But, thank you Dr. Phil wannabe for your superior advice on what makes or doesn't make a superior person. I'll take that into consideration.
again though, guys, rules are rules, it's about safety and someone COULD have been hurt! Ya HAVE to think beyond that edge of the box!
they took HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FROM THEIR HOME INTO THE SCHOOL, AND THEN PROCEEDED TO PUT TOGETHER A SMALL EXPLOSIVE. the sheriff's capt. even quoted "it wasn't that big of an explosion"
truth be known, one probably put their mentos into the other's bottle of coke!
however, rules are rules and they are set for a reason. these boys should have waited til they were out of school and away from there to experiment. unfortunately, now, they have to pay a big price for being curious.
Come on guys...
You guys need to start getting ready for the next NC public institution that your going to be attending.
Buy soap on a rope, it could come in handy.