Long Island Teen Charged In Mass School Shooting Threat: DA

CENTEREACH, NY — A 17-year-old was arrested stemming from an anonymous email threatening to “shoot up” Sequoya High School in Holtsville on Wednesday, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

On Dec. 13, an anonymous email was sent to school administrators of Sequoya High School threatening "to shoot up the school and warning them to be prepared for bloodshed," Tierney's office said.

As a result, the school was immediately locked down and an investigation by the Suffolk police and the District Attorney’s office was launched "to ascertain the identity of the sender of the anonymous threat," according to Tierney's office.

Investigators traced the email to a home in Centereach, about 15 minutes from the high school, Tierney's office said, adding that on Dec. 16, officers responded to the 17-year-old's home and he admitted to sending the threat saying, “I can’t believe you guys found out it was me.”

The teen was arrested and charged with making a threat of mass harm, a misdemeanor, and because of his age, he was referred to Family Court for further adjudication, Tierney's office said.

A search of the home confirmed there were no firearms or weapons in the subject’s possession, according to his office.

Tierney said "anyone thinking of sending an anonymous threat should be forewarned that with the technological abilities of the detectives from my office and the Suffolk County Police Department, we will find you and arrest you."

“Unfortunately, under current state law, a mass shooting threat such as this cannot be prosecuted by my office and, as such, this juvenile will be referred to family court," he added.

It was not immediately clear if the teen has legal representation.

Tierney's office declined to comment further.