SWR H.S. deemed safe after Internet threat forced lockdown

Shoreham-Wading River High School was under lockdown this morning after a student posted a school-shooting threat on Facebook, according to school officials and students.

Superintendent Steven Cohen said the lockdown lasted for about 45 minutes and some students were kept on buses after they arrived at school this morning as administrators and Suffolk County police officers “investigated the nature of the threat” shortly after 7 a.m. and identified the student.

Dr. Cohen couldn’t confirm if the student was in police custody as of 9:30 a.m., but said the suspect wasn’t in school. Suffolk County police officials confirmed they were at the school this morning and found no threat. They declined further comment because an investigation is underway.

[Students, parents react to lockdown on social media]

No other details about the incident were immediately available.

Although the school has been deemed safe, parent Lisa Hughes picked up her son, Tyler, at around 10 a.m. this morning.

“He’s been texting me all morning long and is not comfortable staying here,” Ms. Hughes said as she exited the school with her ninth-grade son.

“They just said over the loud speaker that it was a lockdown, it was not a drill and to go into the nearest classroom,” Tyler said.

Dr. Cohen said he’s pleased how the situation was handled and said the school day was back to normal at 8 a.m.

“All the schools are safe,” he said. “I think the high school administration and police officers did a great job. They took very prudent action by keeping the kids on the bus.”

Check back for more details as they become available.

Additional reporting by Carrie Miller.