By Tiffany Williams –
A Queens high school student was arrested after threatening to “shoot the school up” on social media, authorities said.
Queens DA Melinda Katz said the 16-year-old, of Springfield Gardens, faces multiple weapon and terroristic threat charges after posting the threat to Instagram on September 18. The post included a photo of classwork showing a human outline with the words “TS GMT BOUTTA SHOOT THE SCHOOL UP.”
Federal authorities traced the post to Benjamin Cardozo High School in Bayside. NYPD officers quickly responded and found the teen in a conference room with a backpack and cellphone. A search of the bag recovered a loaded black Taurus GX4 9 mm pistol, including a magazine extender and 13 rounds of ammunition.
DA Katz credited law enforcement, including the FBI, for preventing what could have been a tragedy. “Gun violence has stolen too many young lives in our communities, and we are extremely grateful that this incident did not result in anyone being hurt or worse,” she said.
The teen was arraigned before Queens Supreme Court Justice Leigh Cheng on charges including criminal possession of a weapon in multiple degrees, making a terroristic threat, and possession of a firearm on school grounds. He is due back in court September 26 and, if convicted and granted youthful offender status, could face up to four years in prison.