Police: Baldwin High School Student Charged After Posting Snapchat Video About Guns
BALDWIN, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A Long Island high school student is set to be arraigned after police said he posted a video of guns online and then allegedly brought a B.B. gun to school.
Nassau County police say Shamari Gerrow, a 20-year-old student at Baldwin High School, walked out of the Nassau County police headquarters Friday on his way to face a judge.
Police said Gerrow posted a video on Snapchat showing three handguns and a message referencing which gun he would bring to school.
"He's not a bad guy," fellow student Nia Benjamin told CBS2's Magdalena Doris. "He's a jokester. He's a class clown."
Joke or not, police said officers responded to the school Thursday morning where they confronted Gerrow, who then they said then took off running, dropping an air-powered B.B. gun into a dumpster at a nearby shopping center.
He was apprehended and police said the B.B. gun was recovered from the dumpster. Police said they have not recovered the two other guns that were seen in the Snapchat video, Doris reported.
Students say he could have easily brought the B.B. gun into school, which is manned by security guards.
"They don't check bags," Benjamin said.
"The kids think it's just a game but it could manifest into something bigger," said Abraham Campusano, whose brother goes to the school.
Baldwin Schools Superintendent Shari L. Camhi posted a message on the district's website saying:
"You may have heard about an incident which occurred off school grounds yesterday. School District staff became aware of a situation that required the attention of law enforcement and notified the police. The police were able to address this off campus situation immediately. Our school day was not interrupted.
"When any information arises that causes concern, it is addressed immediately. We insist on an environment that ensures the safety of staff and students at all times and as a result, we act accordingly.
"Our community is a proud one and they should be. It is unfortunate that the media seek to shine a negative light on this outstanding Baldwin community. Please be assured that everyone is safe and our attention is focused on the needs of our school community."
Despite the superintendent's statement that the incident happened off school property, police have charge Gerrow with unlawful possession of a weapon upon school grounds and making terroristic threats, which is a felony, Doris reported.
