Boy arrested in threat locking down Jericho schools

A 15-year-old former Jericho High School student has been arrested, charged with making "terroristic threats" that forced a lockdown at two district schools this week, Nassau County police said.

The boy was not identified because he is being charged as a juvenile, Nassau County police said. The arrest was made at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

Police said the boy no longer attends school in the district. District officials said they could not comment on the matter, citing privacy laws.

The boy was also charged as a juvenile with first-degree falsely reporting an incident and 12 counts of second-degree aggravated harassment, police said. He will be arraigned in Nassau County Family Court in Westbury, police said.

The day after the boy was arrested, District Superintendent Henry L. Grishman said students, teachers and staff were trying to go about business as usual.

"There was still some anxiety," Grishman said of the mood at Jericho High School and middle school.

"Once word began to spread last night that an arrest was imminent -- or, was taking place -- people began to breathe a sigh of relief," Grishman said. "Today, I'm glad to say, we're back to business as usual."

Grishman said the district learned of the first text threats being made May 12 and said police were notified, as were parents of students. Security personnel swept the campus for any potential explosive devices and, come the start of school Monday, police were on campus.

The texts, police said, threatened the safety of students at the schools, which share the campus on Cedar Swamp Road, and referred to "the existence of an explosive device" at the high school.

Police said no devices were found.

Still, Grishman said, the threats caused the district to place both the high school and middle school on a precautionary lockdown for several days. Extra security measures, including searching all bags and backpacks, took place to ensure student safety, he said. Attendance dropped to the 60-to-65 percent range Monday and Tuesday, Grishman said, as students stayed home.

Grishman said attendance Friday was more than 90 percent at both schools.