Teen Expelled for Science Project that Exploded

Everyone was surprised to see a mug shot of a 16-year-old student.

Reports indicate that Kiera Wilmot, a student at Bartow High School, is accused of mixing household chemicals in a tiny 8-ounce water bottle, which caused the top to pop off, followed by billowing smoke and a small explosion.

Wilmot's friends and classmates said it was "a science project gone bad, that she never meant to hurt anyone," according to 9News.com.

The principal of the school even felt that the student just made a poor choice. "She made a bad choice. Honestly, I don't think she meant to ever hurt anyone. She wanted to see what would happen [when the chemicals mixed] and was shocked by what it did. Her mother is shocked, too."

The explosion happened around 7 a.m. Monday morning on school property, and no one was hurt, according to reports, but staff acted quickly to address the situation.

"She just wanted to see what happened to those chemicals in the bottle," one teen said. "Now, look what happened."

Wilmot was arrested Monday morning and charged with possession/discharge of a weapon on school property and discharging a destructive device.

The teen was expelled and will now complete her education in an expulsion program.

Parents have been urged by school officials to talk with their children about school pranks and the dangers of bringing certain products to school. 

In addition, Polk County Schools released this statement today:

"Anytime a student makes a bad choice it is disappointing to us. Unfortunately, the incident that occurred at Bartow High School yesterday was a serious breach of conduct. In order to maintain a safe and orderly learning environment, we simply must uphold our code of conduct rules. We urge our parents to join us in conveying the message that there are consequences to actions. We will not compromise the safety and security of our students and staff."