Illegal Immigrant Busted With Gun At School

A 16-year-old Colombian national living illegally in the United States has been indicted for allegedly bringing a stolen handgun, ammunition and a knife into Smithtown High School West, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced. The teenager, a Nesconset resident, faces multiple felony charges after fellow students alerted school officials to social media photographs allegedly showing him holding a firearm.

Federal immigration authorities are also involved, with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodging a detainer seeking custody of the defendant following his prosecution. According to prosecutors, the school's principal was interviewing the teenager October 26 about an unrelated incident when three students reported seeing the disturbing social media post. A search of the defendant's backpack allegedly uncovered a stolen Kahr P380 handgun, an extended magazine containing five rounds and a covered kitchen knife.

“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.”

Tierney emphasized the importance of students reporting suspicious behavior.

“I encourage all students to follow this example and speak up when they see something concerning.”

The defendant was arraigned November 10 on 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. Justice Karen Kerr set bail at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond. ICE's detainer requests federal custody following the local prosecution, potentially leading to separate immigration proceedings. Deportation has not been ordered. The defendant returns to court November 23 and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.