Teen Indicted After Stolen Gun Found At Smithtown High School: DA

SMITHTOWN, NY — A 16-year-old student was indicted after allegedly bringing a stolen handgun to Smithtown High School West last month, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney announced Tuesday.

The teenager, a Colombian national living in Nesconset, was arraigned Nov. 10 on charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C violent felony; criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds, a class E felony; and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, a class E felony, prosecutors said.

According to the investigation and indictment, the teen was being interviewed by the school's principal regarding a previous incident involving another student when administrators learned he had allegedly posted a photograph of himself holding a gun on social media.

Three students separately reported seeing the post, prosecutors said.

A search of the teen's backpack allegedly uncovered a small kitchen knife with a cover, an extended magazine containing five rounds and a Kahr P380 handgun, according to the district attorney's office.

The firearm had been reported stolen, prosecutors said. The teenager was arrested at the school.

The incident was initially reported by Suffolk County police on Oct. 27, when Fourth Precinct patrol officers responded to Smithtown High School West at 100 Central Road following a report that a student had posted a photograph with a gun on social media.

In a letter to the school community that day, Smithtown Central School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Secaur said administrators had been investigating a reported conflict between two students when they learned of the social media post.

Secaur said the handgun recovered from the student's backpack was unloaded and that no specific threat against another student, staff member or the school had been identified at the time.

"The presence of a weapon in our schools is deeply concerning, and we recognize the fear and uneasiness this incident may raise among our school community," Secaur wrote. "We are taking this matter very seriously."

The district said the student would also face disciplinary consequences under its Code of Conduct.

Prosecutors said the teenager is a Colombian national and is in the United States unlawfully. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer seeking custody of him following the criminal prosecution.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr ordered the defendant held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond.

The teen, represented by attorney George Terezakis, is scheduled to return to court Nov. 23. His attorney was not immediately available for a request to comment.

"School should be a place where both students and faculty feel safe every day," Tierney said. "I commend the students who came forward and reported the defendant's alleged social media post displaying a firearm. Their actions enabled school officials to respond quickly, recover the weapon and work with my office to hold the defendant accountable before anyone was harmed."