Suspicious Individual With 'Long Gun' Sparks Lockdown At Hampton Bays High School Thursday: Police

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — Hamptons Bays High School was placed on lockdown Thursday morning after a "suspicious vehicle and person" who appeared to be carrying a "long gun," were reported in the area, police said.

According to Southampton Town police, the incident took place at 7:20 a.m. when a Hampton Bays resident called in to report a suspicious vehicle and person.

The resident observed a male, described as possibly in his teens, get out of the vehicle carrying what appeared to be a long gun; the male then got back into the vehicle and left the area, police said.

Hampton Bays High School was placed on lockdown as a safety precaution due to the proximity of the reported incident, police said.

Southampton Town Police patrol officers and the detective division responded, officials said.

An investigation was immediately started with personnel from Hampton Bays High School, police said. Officers conducted an extensive search of the area looking for the vehicle and person that matched the descriptions given. Subsequently, the vehicle and person were located, as well as the gun, police said.

The gun was determined to be a toy gun and the subject was involved in the non-school sanctioned game of "Senior Assassin"; the premise of the game is that the student is assigned a "target", another student, and use the water guns to eliminate their friends from the game, which results in a single winner, police said.

An assembly was held with Hampton Bays High School staff and Southampton Town Police Department's school resource officers to address the potential dangers associated with the game and the possibility of a toy gun being mistaken for a real gun, police said.

"We encourage all parents and guardians to have a conversation with your children regarding the potential risks associated with this game. Thank you to the Hampton Bays School District for assisting with this investigation and helping to keep our community safe," police said.