Four Weapons Arrests Raise School Safety Concerns on Long Island

Four students have been arrested in weapons cases at Long Island high schools in about two weeks, raising questions about campus security. Two of the cases were in Suffolk County: a stabbing that seriously injured a 16-year-old at Sachem High School East in Farmingville and a gun case at Smithtown High School West that led to an indictment. In Nassau County, police arrested a 15-year-old after finding a loaded gun at West Hempstead High School and an 18-year-old after finding a switchblade in a backpack at Elmont Memorial High School. The arrests have left parents asking whether their children are safe at school and whether districts should tighten security.

The Sachem East Stabbing

A 15-year-old stabbed a 16-year-old classmate in the parking lot at Sachem East, 177 Granny Road, at about 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Suffolk County police said. The district said the stabbing happened during dismissal. Sixth Squad detectives arrested the younger teen on charges of first-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The injured student was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, according to the district. Police described his injuries as serious but not life-threatening.

At the teen's arraignment the next day in First District Court in Central Islip, a prosecutor said he stabbed the other student in the upper chest with a 4-inch kitchen knife. The injured student needed emergency surgery. The 15-year-old, who has not been named because of his age, pleaded not guilty and was ordered held without bail. The teen's family said he had been bullied before the fight. His mother told reporters she expected the school to protect her son and also felt for the injured student and his family. "I do feel bad for what happened," she said. "Just like how those parents are hurting for him, I'm hurting for my kid too." Sachem has not confirmed the bullying claims. Superintendent Patti Trombetta said the campus was secure after the arrest and that the district would work with its security team and Suffolk police to address residents' concerns.

The Smithtown West Gun Case

In the earlier Smithtown case, a 16-year-old student from Nesconset was arrested after a handgun, a magazine and a knife were found in his backpack at Smithtown High School West. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Nov. 10 that the teen had been indicted and arraigned before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr. He faces charges of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Kerr set bail at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or a $500,000 partially secured bond. The teen, represented by attorney George Terezakis, is due back in court Nov. 23.

The district attorney's office described the teen, who has not been named, as a Colombian national living in the United States without legal authorization. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer to take him into custody after the criminal case ends, the office said. Prosecutors said the principal was interviewing the teen Oct. 26 about an earlier incident involving another student when three students reported a social media image showing him holding a gun. A search of his backpack turned up a small covered kitchen knife, an extended magazine containing five rounds and a Kahr P380 handgun that had been reported stolen, prosecutors said.

"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." Superintendent Mark Secaur told families that the district knew of no specific threat and that security staff met the student when he arrived by car, before he entered the building.

Two More Arrests In Nassau

Nassau County police responded to West Hempstead High School, 400 Nassau Blvd., at 1:50 p.m. Nov. 9 after a firearm was recovered. Police said a 15-year-old had been in an altercation the previous week with a student from Hempstead High School. Information about that incident led to a search of his locker, where a loaded firearm was found in his bookbag, police said. School staff detained him, and officers arrested him without incident on a charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. West Hempstead Superintendent Daniel Rehman told families the district would review its procedures. Students' bags were being checked the next morning.

The next afternoon, Nov. 10, Nassau police responded to a 911 call at Elmont Memorial High School, 555 Ridge Road. Police said a switchblade was found in the backpack of Dayvion Campbell, 18, of Elmont. School staff detained Campbell, and police arrested him on a charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Campbell was released on an appearance ticket and is scheduled to return to court in Hempstead at a later date. In a letter to families, Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent Regina Agrusa said no threats had been made and the student would also face consequences under the district's code of conduct.

Security In Other Districts

Brentwood High School put safety measures in place Nov. 4, the day before the Sachem stabbing, after a threatening phone call. Suffolk County police later determined the threat was not credible. Central Islip already uses metal detectors on random days and at random times at its senior high school and may use them in other buildings, according to the district's school safety page. Islip asks anyone with a safety concern to call its security tip line at 631-859-4847.

As of Nov. 12, a review of public statements found no new comments from Islip, East Islip, Bay Shore, Sayville, West Islip, Connetquot or Brentwood specifically addressing the four arrests. The charges are accusations. The students are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.