Man displayed gun, threatened teen at Roosevelt High School, police say
Roosevelt High School, where police say a man threatened a teenager by flashing a handgun Monday. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Nassau police are searching for a man they said threatened a 17-year-old student Monday, displaying a gun he was carrying on the football field at Roosevelt High School.
Police said the man, described in his mid-30s to 40s, was arguing with the teen on the football field at about 6 p.m. Monday.
The man lifted his shirt, police said, showing the black handle of a handgun in his waistband and telling the teen to meet him in the parking lot.
The teen, "in fear for his life," ran away and called police; the armed man was last seen walking away from the school, heading south on Denton Place, police said.
The man was described as about 5-feet 9-inches tall and weighing about 220 pounds.
Roosevelt School District officials said the confrontation took place after football practice and "outside of school hours, when no summer classes, athletic practices, or official activities were in session," adding there was no ongoing threat to students or schools.
"We are taking additional steps to strengthen after-hours security to prevent unauthorized use of facilities," Roosevelt superintendent Shawn Wightman said in a letter to families.
Nassau County police also planned to increase patrols around Roosevelt campuses after school, Wightman said.
"We ask families to partner with us in reminding students and community members that after-hours use of facilities is limited to authorized programs, so that together we can ensure safe spaces for everyone," Wightman said.
Police are asking anyone with information to call 911 or Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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