Queens High School Student Arrested After Gun Found in Backpack Following Online Threat
Students and families in Queens are shaken after police stopped what could have been a tragic school shooting at Benjamin Cardozo High School.
Authorities say a 16-year-old sophomore posted a disturbing message on Instagram around 10:15 a.m. Thursday, suggesting he was “about to shoot the school up.”
The FBI was quickly notified, traced the account back to the school, and alerted the NYPD. Officers removed the student from class a little over two hours later.
A search of his belongings, with parental consent, uncovered a loaded 9mm Taurus GX4 handgun carrying 13 rounds. Police also recovered three cell phones, despite a school rule requiring students to turn in their phones at the start of the day.
The arrest stunned the community, as Cardozo High School is considered a “no scan” school, meaning students are not regularly screened with metal detectors. Officials said the school had no record of gun-related offenses in the past year.
Mayor Eric Adams praised the quick action of the person who reported the Instagram post, emphasizing the importance of vigilance: “If you see something, say something, but most importantly, do something.”
Now, parents, students, and neighbors are grappling with relief that a crisis was averted and renewed safety concerns.
As this case unfolds, it is important to remember that while safety is paramount, students have the right to protection, to education, and to grow up free from violence, as affirmed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
At the same time, when children come into conflict with the law, they must be treated with dignity, fairness and given opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration.
