Teen Accused Of Dousing Security Guards With Gasoline Charged As Adult

WILKINSBURG (KDKA) -- A 16-year-old girl is now charged as an adult after police say she poured gasoline on two school security guards and tried to set them on fire.

Wilkinsburg High School student Imani Knight-Brantley is being held in the Allegheny County Jail following the incident.

According to investigators, Wilkinsburg school security guard Brandon Murray was drenched in gasoline that was brought into the building by Knight-Brantley.

He's calling for tighter school security as a result of the incident.

"I've stressed all year, and this isn't my first year here, I've stressed not allowing food and drinks in the building," said Murray. "Had that been a policy in place she would have never been to get in to do this."

It all started Friday when officials say Knight-Brantley was caught with a cell phone and ordered to leave the building. She came back for an after-school meal.

Murray says that's when a fight broke out and she was allegedly seen instigating, so he told her to leave.

Authorities say the teenager claims Murray smacked a tray out of her hands and she hit him with a milk carton. She claims he grabbed her by the neck, put her in a headlock and threatened to bite her.

Eventually, Knight-Brantley left the building but was told to come back Monday to face disciplinary action.

When she returned Monday, police say she asked to apologize to the security guard.

However, when she got close enough, police said the teenager pulled out a soda bottle full of gasoline and doused Murray and another guard.

"It was thrown in my face, it got into my mouth, it's on my clothes," said Murray. "That was enough to where as though, I really wanted to go hands on with her. Her intent was to burn us. Those were the words that she used."

Knight-Brantley is charged with four counts of aggravated assault, one count each of risking a catastrophe and possession of a weapon on school property, and two counts of reckless endangerment.

She has been ordered to have no contact with the security guard or the school and must see a behavioral specialist. She's being held on $100,000 bond.

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