Nassau Teen's Violent Posts Targeted High School: PD

A teen was arrested on Tuesday morning for posing with a gun and making online terroristic threats towards Sewanhaka High School, police say.

According to authorities, Joseph K. Khanat, 17, of Franklin Square, posted a picture of himself posing with a gun on the Internet accompanied by a caption that threatened Sewanhaka High School at 500 Tulip Ave. in Floral Park. He also posted a second photo of the school on fire, police say.

The assistant principal called in the incident to Floral Park police at 9:55 a.m. Khanat was placed under arrest without incident following an investigation and charged with making a terroristic threat. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead Wednesday.

Principal of Sewanhaka High School Chris Salinas addressed the incident in a message to parents and guardians:

Dear Parents and Guardians: Today we received a social media threat made by a student towards an administrator. Upon addressing the matter immediately we collaborated with the Nassau Police Department to help and support the investigation. During the investigation the student in question was compliant and responsible. The threat made was isolated to the individual's involved and no other students, faculty, or staff were impacted by the threat. If you have any questions about the situation, please do not hesitate to contact or call me.

No one was hurt, police say.

Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder released a statement on Monday regarding terroristic threats toward schools. He said:

"Since the horrific Parkland, Florida shootings which occurred on February 14, 2018, Nassau County has experienced a large influx of threats of violence to schools. I would like to assure all Nassau County residents, school personnel and students that all threats received by the Police Department are taken seriously until they are deemed unfounded or non-credible. Numerous investigative resources are expended during these investigations and false threats will never be tolerated. If an individual is found to be in violation of the law for making a school threat, the individual will be charged with 'Making a Terroristic Threat' which is an D Felony punishable up to seven years in prison."

Image via NCPD