A Westbury High School student is facing charges after allegedly making violent threats against students and faculty, according to police.
Per a Nassau County Police Department press release, Oketa Orlando Blair Jr.,18, was arrested on Tuesday and is facing charges of threatening terrorism and aggravated harassment in the second degree.
“According to detectives, a male student, 18, at Westbury High School located at 1 Post Road, expressed his desire to conduct a violent act towards students and faculty members,” the release stated. “The faculty staff became aware of the threat and the school administration immediately notified Old Westbury Police Department.”
A judge issued an Extreme Risk Protection Order barring the defendant from purchasing any firearms. Blair Jr. was arraigned in Hempstead’s First District Court on Wednesday.
The superintendent of the Westbury Union Free School District, Tahira DuPree Chase, first informed parents of the threats on May 28.
“Last night, we discovered threatening posts on the Westbury High School, Westbury Middle School, Westbury STEAM and Westbury Union Free School District Twitter accounts,” according to the statement. “The posts appear to come from a singular Twitter user. Upon discovery, we immediately contacted Old Westbury Police Department.”
On May 30 and 31, as well as June 1, DuPree Chase sent out three additional messages informing the community of the issue, including the suspect’s arrest.
According to the latest of the four statements given out yesterday, Blair Jr. has been freed from police custody, but DuPree Chase has stated that he will not be returning to the school.
“The district is diligently working to make the appropriate long-term arrangements in accordance with the applicable laws,” the statement read. “Please be assured that the safety of the district’s students and employees is the district’s top priority.”
This incident adds to a growing list of recent school threats on Long Island. A student at Riverhead High School and another at Bellport High School allegedly made similar threats in the last week.
This follows the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Tex., which killed 22, including the perpetrator.
