A major break-in was reported at Harry S. Truman Elementary School in Santa Rita, as vandals forced school officials to cancel classes today. Staff arrived to find the campus in disarray and school property destroyed. 

Splintered doors, stolen technology, and shattered windows are just some of the damages left behind after the incident, suspected to have occurred between Sunday afternoon and Monday – after teachers had been in on Sunday morning to secure their classrooms following this past weekend's earthquake.

Upon discovering the damage this morning, school administration had no choice but to send students back home while they pick up the pieces.

Guam Police Department’s Crime scene investigation arrived shortly after to document the extent of the damage. Acting Principal Rose Castro says the level of vandalism suggests this was more than just a random break-in with the intruders leaving a targeted message for Truman teachers.

“It seems that they were planning this," she said. “With that kind of message that the child is trying to share, I don’t understand what they’re trying to state to the teachers. Their teachers were here for them."

The intruders also discharged fire extinguishers, coating classrooms in harmful chemical dust. Castro continued,  “A lot of damaged laptops, damaged door handles, even broken white boards that were purchased by the teachers themselves.”

For Santa Rita-Sumai mayor Dale Alvarez, this morning’s scene was upsetting. “You know, I feel for the teachers, the faculty, the staff, and especially the students because after we fought to keep the school open, we get vandalized like this," he said.

“This is their education, this is their home, this is where they learn. For you to do this to the kids is disrespectful. But I want justice.”

While GPD continues its investigation, Police Chief Stephen Ignacio says the impact goes far beyond just the school. “To the criminals that did this, you know the effect is not just on the school. It’s on the whole of the community. Parents have to take off from work, kids don’t get to go to school. But some of those kids rely on the meals at school. And they don’t get to have their meal today," he said.

Students can expect to return to classes on Wednesday as GDOE facilities and maintenance staff and teachers worked to get the school ready for instruction. 

Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to call the Guam Police Department.