Smithtown West gets extra police presence after rumor that arrested teen had list of names

Police say an investigation found no credible evidence of a threat, 2 days after a student brought a gun, knife and bullets in his backpack to school

Suffolk Police sent extra officers to Smithtown West High School on Thursday, two days after a 16-year-old student was arrested with a gun in his backpack.

Police said an investigation found no credible evidence of a threat at the school on Wednesday, Oct. 28. The statement came in response to a Greater Long Island question about a unconfirmed report that, on a school bus Wednesday afternoon, a student told another student the arrested teen had a list of names.

“After an investigation, police found no credible evidence of a threat on October 28,” police said. “There will be added police presence at Smithtown West High School on October 29.”

The teen was arrested Tuesday afternoon, following a 911 caller’s report that the boy had posted a picture with a gun on social media, police said. School staff searched the student’s backpack about 1:55 p.m. and found a firearm, a knife and a magazine.

Smithtown Superintendent Mark Secaur told families that administrators learned of the post while looking into a reported conflict between two students. He said the district was “not aware of any specific threat” the student made.

The teen, whose name was not released because of his age, is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Detectives ask anyone with information to call the Fourth Squad at 631.854.8451.

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_{Top: GLI file photo/Mike White}