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Queens teen arrested after threatening school shooting on Instagram, NYPD says
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 18, 2025
Modified Sep 19, 2025
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Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office.
By
Charles Lane
Published Sep 18, 2025
Modified Sep 19, 2025
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The NYPD said officers arrested a 16-year-old student Thursday after finding a loaded gun in his backpack and after he allegedly posted a threat on Instagram saying he would “shoot up” his Queens high school.
The FBI discovered the post just after 10 a.m., according to Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. The image showed schoolwork with the caption "boutta shoot the school up." Agents traced the account holder’s information and forwarded it to the police, she said.
Officers arrived at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside just over an hour later and arrested the 10th grader after finding a loaded 9mm semiautomatic pistol with 13 rounds in his backpack, the commissioner said.
Tisch said Friday the teen is being charged as a minor with criminal weapons possession and making terroristic threats. She said officers searched his home bedroom Thursday night and found two additional 9mm bullets consistent with the pistol, which she said was legally purchased by a licensed firearm-permit holder in South Carolina in January.
The investigation into the incident is continuing in coordination with a joint task force led by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and with the Queens district attorney's office, Tisch added. The school opened Friday with scanning as well as more uniformed NYPD officers and school safety agents in place, she said.
A social media post allegedly made by a 16-year-old student shows a drawing labeled "student life" with the caption "boutta shoot the school up."
Courtesy NYPD
"This was a failure of a society that allowed a 16-year-old to get so close to shooting up a school and potentially killing classmates and teachers," Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference Thursday.
He added that “our children are being radicalized,” without specifying who was radicalizing them.
Tisch said the student’s parents consented to the search after police confirmed the Instagram account belonged to him.
Authorities did not provide a possible motive. Tisch said the school had not reported any previous gun incidents in the past year.
"As a mother of two young school-aged boys, I am shaken,” she said Thursday. “But as your police commissioner, I am resolute in ensuring that the NYPD does everything in our power to keep our children safe."
Andrew Giambrone contributed reporting. This story has been updated with additional information.
Tagged
eric adams
new york city
public safety
queens
Charles Lane
Charles is a Day-of reporter focused on breaking news and enterprise. He’s very friendly and can be reached at [email protected], or more securely on whatsapp/signal 631-295-6715
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