Vandals broke into the Runge school grounds and caused more than $10,000 worth of damage February 5.

School officials were alerted late in the evening when the school’s fire alarm system activated. District Superintendent Ernest Havner and other school officials drove to the building to see if there was a fire. They found parts of the school heavily damaged.

The vandals had broken into elementary office, destroyed a Xerox machine, trashed several computers, destroyed data files, broke into a trophy case and destroyed several trophies inside, and finally had sprayed a fire extinguisher all around, causing the alarm to set off.

They also wrote several death threats Havner is classifying as "terroristic." He said the school district is taking the matter very seriously and believes the incident to be far more than a prank.

"I hope the sheriff’s department steps up and takes full charge at this, because this is very major," he said.

The school is offering a $500 for any information that leads to the conviction of anyone in the case.

The Karnes County Sheriff’s Department is processing evidence left at the scene in hopes of finding concrete proof of who did the deeds.

"We picked up a lot of physical evidence," Karnes County Sheriff David Jalufka said. "Whoever did this, they’re looking at a felony indictment. We’re taking it very seriously."

If convicted on the state jail felony charge, anyone involved in the vandalism could face up to two years in state jail and a fine as high as $10,000.

Adding to the damage, Havner said he believes the same vandals returned in the evening February 6. School officials found a large window broken in the school library the day after and estimate the cost of replacing it will be as much as $500.

None of the acts of vandalism have severely impeded the school district’s ability to educate children, according to Havner. He also said school officials are pretty sure they know who is responsible.

"We feel like we’re very close to finding exactly who did it," he said.

Havner also said he wants to look to the city for help in imposing a curfew for minors.