Gun in Smithtown West student’s backpack reported stolen from Florida sheriff’s office

The teen’s bail was set at $50,000 cash, and a judge issued orders of protection for two students who helped identify him to school officials

The handgun a 16-year-old Smithtown West High School student allegedly carried to school in his backpack had been reported stolen in Florida, according to a felony complaint.

The Nesconset teen was arraigned Wednesday in Suffolk County Court’s Youth Part before Judge Karen Kerr, who set bail at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond, according to a spokesperson for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Kerr also issued orders of protection for two Smithtown students who helped identify the teen to school officials, the spokesperson said.

The teen had the loaded gun in his backpack inside the school building at about 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, the complaint says. Police have said previously that school staff found the gun — and knife and ammunition — when they searched the bag at about 1:55 p.m.

The complaint describes the gun as loaded. Under New York law, a gun counts as loaded when the person carrying it also has ammunition that can be fired from it. Smithtown Superintendent Mark Secaur told families the search turned up an unloaded handgun and bullets.

The teen is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds and criminal possession of a firearm.

Police went to the school on Central Road on Tuesday afternoon after a 911 caller reported a student had posted a picture with a gun on social media. Secaur said administrators learned of the post while looking into a reported conflict between two students.

On Thursday, Suffolk Police beefed up police presence at the school. Police said an investigation found no credible evidence of a threat on Wednesday. Police were responding to a GLI question about a rumor among students that the teen had a list of names.

The teen’s name has not been released because of his age.

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_{Top: Smithtown West High School entrance (Google Maps Street View), Suffolk First District Court in Central Islip (GLI file) and a Kahr P380 (Kahr Firearms Group).}