UPDATE: Southampton Village Police Say Additional Threat Led To School Lock Out

UPDATE: Tuesday, 1:20 p.m.

Southampton Village Police Detective Sergeant Herman Lamison said the school lockout was a result of two separate threats.

According to Det. Sgt. Lamison, Village Police were investigating tips that came in on Saturday about four Southampton High School students, boys and girls, posting pictures of themselves on Snapchat with what appeared to be firearms, but were later determined to be pellet guns.

Det. Sgt. Lamison said a lockout was not initially put in place, but the department was planning to place additional patrols at the schools out of precaution.

But as the department was investigating the Snapchat messages, the second threat came into the department that was unspecified in terms of target, and the department chose to put the school district on lockout.

Det. Sgt. Lamison said the threat from the students was not specific either, and after a thorough investigation, “it turned out to be nothing.”

Multiple attempts to reach out to Dr. Dyno seeking additional information about the lockout, were not returned.

UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.

Southampton School Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Dyno notified parents at 1:54 p.m. that the school would remain in a lockout status during dismissal Monday afternoon. As part of the lockout, Dr. Dyno told parents, Southampton Village Police officers would be present during dismissal and that all after school activities were canceled.

Armed officers were seen in full SWAT gear in front of the Southampton High School on Monday afternoon, in an effort to provide added protection to the school.

Lars Clemensen, the superintendent of Hampton Bays schools, noted that he was aware of the threat, though chose not to put the school on lock out.

“The threat has been deemed non-credible and resolved by the [New York Police Department] and [Suffolk County Police Department],” Mr. Clemensen said on Monday.

Suffolk County Police officials would not verify where the threat originated, but noted the threat is a few days old and that they are currently investigating it.

UPDATE: 1:57 p.m.

The Southampton School District was the only local district to go on lockout Monday, after finding out about the threat.

In an email to parents on Monday afternoon, Southampton district officials said a lockout was initiated, which means, “no one will be allowed to enter the buildings.”

Westhampton Schools heard about the warning, but chose not to put the school under lockdown status.

“We received a call from the Westhampton Beach Police regarding an unverified, non-specific threat,” Westhampton School District Superintendent Michael Radday said. “The police increased their presence in the schools during the timeframe of the threat. We had our security team double-check that all exterior doors were secured.”

Other school districts , including East Quogue, East Hampton and Springs were made aware of the threat, but also chose not to go on lockout.

Debra Winter said the Springs School District did not get notified of the threat, therefore the district was not going on lock out, and officials with the Montauk School District chose not to comment on the situation.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Southampton School officials initiated a lockout on Monday afternoon, after school officials were informed of a Snapchat threat that originated in western Long Island.

Town Police Lieutenant Susan Ralph said a Snapchat message was discovered posted in western Long Island, though she would not say where. She would not offer specifics regarding the threat, only that it posed a possible threat to schools.

Town Police informed Southampton School officials of the Snapchat, and the officials decided to put the schools on lockout, according to Lt. Ralph.

“We do not put the schools on lockdown. They put themselves on lockout,” Lt. Ralph said on Monday. “The Snapchat has nothing to do with the East End.

“It is currently being investigated,” she added.

Southampton Village Police Detective Sergeant Herman Lamison said his department received the threat through Town Police that a shooting was going to occur at 12:20 p.m.

“We have police presence at every school campus in the village,” Det. Sgt. Lamison said, adding that he too heard the Snapchat was from further west.