Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Dispute Over Landscaping Sparked Shooting At LI School

Police say a man fired three shots into the ground at Roosevelt High School. There were nearly 100 students in the building.

UPDATE, NOON: According to multiple sources, the shooting Tuesday morning at a Roosevelt school was sparked by an argument about tree cuttings.

The incident, which happened at Roosevelt High School and not the middle school as initially reported, started around 9 a.m. when a man, whom police have not identified, got into an argument with custodial staff who were landscaping the school grounds.

ABC7 reported that the man got into an argument with the staff after parts of the trees they were trimming fell onto his property. According to police, the man pulled out a gun and fired three shots into the ground, then fled back to his home.

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The man barricaded himself in his home, but surrendered without incident when the Nassau County police arrived.

Though school was not in session, there were about 40 teachers and 100 student athletes in the building at the time of the shooting, Newsday reported. No one was injured.

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According to police, most of the students were out on the field practicing sports when the shooting occurred. They were rushed into the building and a lock down was initiated.

ORIGINAL STORY: A shooting at Roosevelt Middle School prompted a lockdown and a swift response by Nassau police this morning.

ABC7 reported that a man confronted custodians in front of the school and fired a shot at them, then fled to his home, where he was later arrested by Nassau police.

"The High School and Middle School are on lockout due to an incident in the area," the school district posted on its website. "Everyone is safe and secure. Please do not approach the surrounding areas. Police have the area secure."

Nassau police confirmed there was an incident at the school, but have not yet released details.

This is an ongoing story, and will be updated as more information becomes available.

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