Police Respond To William Floyd High School Over Possible Threat

MASTIC BEACH, NY — Suffolk police responded to William Floyd High School as a precaution to investigate social media posts concerning a potential threat at the school on Thursday, just two days after the community was sent reeling over the death of a recent graduate.

In a statement, district officials said that they were made aware “of social media screenshots discussing a potential issue at the high school,” but they had not received “any threats toward the school or any building in the district.”

District officials received social media screenshots “of people discussing a threat that someone else heard about, and they are taking any discussion of the “nature extremely seriously as the safety and security of students and staff is the number one priority,” the statement read.

Police have been on-site and are expected to be throughout the day, officials said, adding that school security is using metal-detecting wands to “check for weapons” as students enter the building.

Physical education classes and recess at schools within the vicinity of the high school were brought inside for the day as “another precautionary measure,” officials said.

Safety and security of the students and staff are the “top priority,” officials said, adding, “If anything changes, the district will notify the community as quickly as possible.”

Police said the investigation is ongoing.

The possible threat comes two days after a recent graduate of the high school, 18-year-old Marcel Arrington, was shot to death outside his Bayview Avenue home. No. Arrests have been made in the case.

News 12 received a screenshot of saying “dead man pack” and another stating “Marcel” along with audio of someone taking credit for Arrington’s slaying, the outlet reported.

Detective Lt. Kevin Beyrer told News 12 that the police have the audio recording but are taking it with a "grain of salt."

"It could be just someone bragging," he told the outlet.

Police are asking anyone with information about Arrington’s death to call 1-800-220-Tips.