Dad arrested after 11-year-old son brings unloaded handgun to Tangier Smith Elementary School, cops say

A Mastic Beach father was arrested and charged with weapon possession and child endangerment after his 11-year-old son brought an unloaded handgun to Tangier Smith Elementary School on Wednesday, police said.

A statement on the William Floyd School District website called it "an unloaded, non-functional handgun" and said it was discovered after a classmate of the boy notified school officials at dismissal.

The district said school officials "immediately" notified Suffolk County police, adding: "At no point were students and staff in danger." It was not clear what the term "non-functional" meant. Police described the gun only as "unloaded."

It was not clear what type of handgun was involved.

The father, identified only as a 39-year-old, was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and with endangering the welfare of a child. Police said he was not named in order to protect the identity of the student.

The student was charged with juvenile delinquency "for bringing a weapon on school grounds," police said.

Arraignment details for the father were not immediately available.

It was not clear if the student has been suspended.

In its statement, the district said: "The incident is currently under investigation by the police and appropriate action will be taken by school officials."

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”