Student Arrested After Posting School Threat on Instagram, Gun Found at Benjamin Cardozo High School

School Threat Averted by Tip

• 🚨 A 16-year-old student at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Bayside, Queens, was arrested after posting a school shooting threat on Instagram.
• 💬 The threat, which included text over an image of schoolwork, was reported by a vigilant individual who saw the post and contacted the FBI.
• 📱 The tip helped authorities identify the Instagram account, geo-tag it to the school, and alert the NYPD, leading to the swift apprehension of the student.

Discovery of Loaded Handgun

• 🔍 School safety officers located the sophomore student, who had no prior criminal history, and his phone rang when they called the number associated with the account.
• 🤝 A parent consented to a search of the student's belongings.
• 🎒 Inside the student's backpack, officers discovered a loaded 9mm Taurus GX4 semi-automatic handgun with 13 rounds in the magazine.

Community Reaction and Impact

• ⏱️ The student was arrested just over two hours after the threat appeared online.
• 💔 A basketball coach at Cardozo High School, who is also an alum, shared that he has lost nine former players and four parents to gun violence over his career.
• 🙏 Families in the Bayside community expressed gratitude that the potential tragedy was averted.
• 🤗 The mayor urged parents to hug their children and encouraged students to speak about their feelings if they are struggling.