Oceanside Attack That Killed Teen Was Over A Girl: Police

MINEOLA, NY — At a press conference Thursday morning, Nassau County officials released more information about the man charged with the murder of a 16-year-old Oceanside boy, as well as more details about the attack.

Police say that Tyler Flach, 18, of Lido Beach, turned himself in to officers yesterday, with his lawyer present. Flach was charged with second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Khaseen Morris.

According to Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, a 911 call came in Monday afternoon as the fight was breaking up. Police officers arrived on the scene two minutes later, Ryder said, and found Morris, who was bleeding from his wound. They called an ambulance, which arrived two minutes later and rushed Morris to South Nassau Communities Hospital, where he died from his injuries Monday night.

Officials said the fight was started over the perception that Morris was dating the ex-girlfriend of one of his attackers. Police said that Flach was not the ex-boyfriend.

Ryder said that Flach, a student at Nassau Community College, had two previous arrests on his record: one from Sept. 8 for criminal possession of a controlled substance, and another from May of this year for assault following a road-rage incident.

Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas said that, if convicted, Flach could face 25 years to life in prison. He's expected to be arraigned later today.

Police said that there are more suspects that they are looking for in connection with the attack — as many as seven.

Officials urged anyone with information about the attack, including videos they took, to come forward now. Ryder stressed that anyone who may have participated in the attack should turn themselves into police now, rather than wait for handcuffs to be slapped on them.

"There's nothing more horrific in our business than the murder of a child," Singas said. "So if people have information about that, they need to come forward."

The attack garnered international media attention for the dozens of other teens who reportedly watched the fight and filmed it. In an emotional letter to the school community, Long Beach Superintendent Jennifer Gallagher urged people to reflect on what happened.

"We also struggle to understand the disconnect that allowed people to videotape Khaseen’s death instead of helping him," she wrote. "Clearly this is something that warrants careful reflection in our schools. We need to teach our children that viewing something through the lens of an iPhone camera does not change its reality, or eliminate our obligations as human beings. This is something we will continue to work on in our schools, and we will ask for your support as parents in helping us."

Gallagher also said that the school district postponed its homecoming games and celebrations until later in the fall because "holding a celebration this week seemed disrespectful in light of the week’s events."

Ryder also addressed the anxiety that has filled the Oceanside, Long Beach and Freeport communities since the attack. Security is in place at schools in all three areas, he said, and police are being vigilant. But, he stressed, the schools and the children in them are safe.

"Nobody is going to threaten anyone in this community without this DA prosecuting them," Ryder said. "You can take that to the bank."