NYC's Fashion Institute Of Technology Locked Down After School Shooting Threat, Student Charged
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – New York's Fashion Institute of Technology was placed on lockdown Friday evening after there were reports of a person with a gun at the school.
The NYPD took one suspect into custody, quickly ending an active shooter scene with no shots fired at the Manhattan campus.
Authorities say the 22-year-old suspect is now facing multiple charges including two counts of terrorism , two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm.
According to police sources, a call was received around 6 p.m. about a suspect with a weapon believed to be inside FIT.
"He was in my class, he asked the professor to leave early," student Gianna Kingsland said.
Kingsland said the suspect walked out, then posted a video to social media, holding what appeared to be a handgun and ending the video with the words "school shooter, thank god it's Friday."
Another picture was posted to the suspect's Instagram account, appearing to show the student holding two firearms and wearing a gas mask.
Officers quickly responded and found the 22-year-old at a Union Square Barnes & Noble bookstore, armed with a pellet gun. Police believe there is no further threat against the school on West 27th Street.
CBS2's Valerie Castro reports that FIT students were later able to leave the building after a "shelter in place" order was lifted, but students say there were several tense moments before the all-clear was given.
"Yeah I was like texting my mom, I was like 'there's someone on campus with a gun, I'm safe, I promise, I just want to say, like I love you guys,'" one student told CBS2.
