Helena High student walkout protest canceled after homemade explosive found near campus

A planned student walkout protesting federal immigration enforcement at Helena High School was canceled Thursday after a homemade explosive device was found near the school.

According to Helena Police Chief Brett Petty, law enforcement found a milk jug filled with some sort of fuel on private property near North Dakota Street and Davis Street. Helena school district Superintendent Rex Weltz said there were fireworks found as well.

The threat was identified around 10 a.m. and called into the Helena Police Department. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to investigate.

In a press release, HPD says the caller located the device near a building and safely removed it from the immediate area.

"Based on the appearance of the item, it was treated as a suspected improvised explosive device," the press release states. "As a precaution, officers conducted thorough searches of the area where the device was located, the surrounding neighborhood, and areas near Helena High School, including possible routes associated with the planned protest. No additional suspicious items were found."

Law enforcement was seen investigating behind Capital City Health Club on North Dakota Street, while Helena police officers could be seen patrolling around the school at the time of the planned protest.

"At this time, there is no evidence indicating that the device is related to the planned protest or that there is any ongoing threat to the school or the community," the press release states.

Weltz was notified of the situation about 20 minutes before the planned event and subsequently met with the principals of Helena High and Capital High as well as the student organizers to cancel the event.

"It stung, they were emotionally distraught," Weltz said about the student organizers after learning of the situation. "I'm tired. I'm tired of people hurting each other. I'm tired of how wound tight we are as a country."

The district then sent an alert out to parents notifying them of the cancellation and situation.

"While there is no known threats to school buildings at this time, the Helena Police Department (HPD) advised that student organized walk-outs be cancelled in an abundance of caution for all students' safety," the message to parents reads. "We are continuing to work with Helena Police Department and will continue to communicate as we receive updates."

At the time of the event, Assistant Superintendent Josh McKay was outside the school alerting students who may not have heard about the cancellation.

"The care and concern our administrators have is incredible," Helena school board trustee Janet Armstrong, who was also at the scene, said. "They reacted quickly. They are out here having great conversations with students and parents. What more can you ask for.”

Roughly 15 undeterred Capital High School students held their own protest at the intersection of Custer and Montana avenues, just hours after the Helena High School student walkout was canceled.

CHS senior Hazel Helseth held a sign at the protest, chanting with her schoolmates.

"We heard about the (threat) ... We weren't planning on going over there, but this is really important to us," Helseth said. "... I think that ICE is violating the Constitution. There's no due process."

Claire Lane, a CHS junior, said, "I think it's our job, as people who are privileged because I am white ... It's our job as those people who are privileged to stand up for those who don't have the availability to stand up for themselves."