Smithtown High School West Student, 16, Charged After Gun, Knife Found: Police

SMITHTOWN, NY — A 16-year-old Smithtown High School West student was arrested Tuesday after school staff found a firearm, knife and magazine in his backpack, Suffolk County police said.

Fourth Precinct patrol officers responded to the school at 100 Central Road after a 911 caller reported that a student had posted a picture with a gun on social media, police said.

School staff searched the student's backpack and discovered the weapons and magazine around 1:55 p.m., police said.

The student, a 16-year-old boy from Smithtown, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon for a loaded firearm on school grounds, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property involving a firearm, police said.

He is scheduled to appear as an adolescent offender in First District Court Youth Part in Central Islip on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

In a letter to the school community Tuesday, Smithtown Central School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Secaur said administrators were investigating a reported conflict between two students when they learned that one of them may have recently posted a photograph of a handgun on social media.

School administrators immediately contacted Suffolk County police, and a school resource officer was dispatched to assist, Secaur said.

Secaur said an unloaded handgun and bullets were found in the student's backpack. Police subsequently announced a charge involving a loaded firearm on school grounds.

The student was arrested without incident, according to Secaur.

The superintendent said the district was continuing to investigate the incident but had no information indicating that the student had made a specific threat.

"At this time, we are not aware of any specific threat made by this student to another student, staff member, the Smithtown High School West, or District as a whole," Secaur wrote.

Secaur said the student would face disciplinary consequences under the district's Code of Conduct in addition to the criminal charges.

Detectives are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8451.