Gun Alarm in New York Schools: Two Students Arrested

Just days after the start of the new school year in New York City, a pair of high school students brandishing weapons from their backpacks reignited security debates. In incidents in Queens and Staten Island, two students aged 17 and 18 were taken into custody.

A gun burst from a bag in Queens.

At Queens School for Career Development, a 17‑year‑old student was found to be carrying a loaded weapon in his bag during a security screening before he entered the building. Officials said the student faced charges of carrying a weapon and that the case would be handled within the juvenile justice system. It was indicated that the weapon was detected in the screening carried out before the student entered the school building.

Weapon Handed Over After the Fight

An 18‑year‑old Samuel Owusu was taken into custody by school security officers at Curtis High School in Staten Island after a fight with another student. Security personnel discovered a loaded firearm with blanks in the student’s backpack. Owusu faces charges of unlawful weapon possession as well as possession of an illegal drug.

Security Forces Discover Weapon

During the incident, students were reported to have pushed each other toward the walls, and the fight was ended by school security personnel. After the search, a weapon was seized and the New York Police Department was notified immediately after the incident. The New York Department of Education stated that no student or staff member was injured in the incident.

There was no screening system at Curtis High School.

According to officials, a screening device used at the entrances of Curtis High School was not present. The weapon was discovered when the student's backpack was searched after the fight. In the Queens incident, the weapon was noticed while the student's backpack was passed through the scanner.

Emergency Notification System Being Updated

Following a series of incidents, the New York administration began reorganizing the emergency communication system in schools. The updated system is intended to send more targeted notifications to nearby private schools when a school declares a lockdown or similar emergency. The city administration said the system was disabled in June because resources were redirected to other communication initiatives at the end of the previous academic year.

Approximately 1.600 schools have security units.

It is reported that approximately 1.600 public schools in the city of New York are protected by the NYPD Okul Güvenlik Birimi. Following recent incidents, the question of how to convey information to students, parents, and surrounding schools in security practices and emergencies has resurfaced.