Two Connetquot district students shot at with air gun, officials say

Connetquot school district officials are encouraging families to talk to their children about personal safety after two students were shot at Wednesday with an air gun after getting off the bus.

The bus dropped off a male and a female student near Pond Road and Peconic Street in Ronkonkoma at about 3:15 p.m., according to a notice circulated by the district from pupil personnel services director Gail Santo. The students were walking toward Locust Avenue when two male teenagers drove by in a black Jeep.

The passenger in the car fired the air gun at the female student and a pellet struck her backpack, according to the message. Neither student was injured and both ran away as the Jeep drove off, Santo wrote.

School officials said the incident had been reported to Suffolk County police and district security.

Police said the Fifth Precinct's crime section is handling the case.

With Ellen Yan