Suffolk Girl Arrested In School After Threatening Mass Harm: Police

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — A Huntington Station student was arrested Thursday after she posted a threat of mass harm on social media, Suffolk police said.

Officers responded to Walt Whitman High School, at 310 West Hills Road, where they found and isolated the 15-year-old girl, police said. Officers searched her locker, book bag and home, police said. She was arrested at the school at 12:35 p.m., police said.

Officers determined there was no credible threat, police said.

The teenager was charged with threat of mass harm and will be arraigned in Suffolk County Family Court at a later date.

South Huntington Superintendent Vito D'Elia told the community in a letter that the girl "misused social media," causing "negative effects" on herself and the school community.

"Social media platforms have begun to work with law enforcement agencies to help limit and cease the spread of violent messages by sharing these messages with law enforcement officials allowing them to quickly identify the source of potential threats," D'Elia said.

Snapchat shared the girl's concerning message with the FBI, which then informed Suffolk police, according to D'Elia.

"The threat made against the school was deemed non-credible and no student was ever in danger, but the student is now facing legal repercussions because of their choices," D'Elia said. "While this is not a problem that only our school faces, it is important to talk about this to ensure that no other students within our school community are negatively affected by poor choices and decision making. Making idle threats, or reporting such threats without cause is dangerous, creating a situation where students, staff and the surrounding community do not feel safe. While our goal is to never have our students face such situations, it is important that they learn the dangerous effects of words of hate and violence on communities at large and that social media platforms are not a place to spread fear. Those who decide to make these types of choices will not only have consequences from the school but will also face legal ramifications."