Ex-Plainedge HS student arrested in terror threat
Nathan Myres, 17, of North Massapequa, allegedly made the threats to several students at the school, saying he was going to carry out his plan this Tuesday, the 11th anniversary of the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, Nassau Police Det. Lt. Kevin Smith said in an interview Saturday.
In that attack, two Columbine students went on a shooting spree in the sprawling school, killing 12 other students and a teacher and injuring 21 others.
Police said Myres was arrested at 5:40 p.m. Friday. He turned himself in at the Seventh Precinct in Seaford, having heard from high school students that police were searching for him, Smith said.
Myres currently is a student at BOCES, a Nassau County program for students with special learning needs, Smith said.
Police have not found any weapons or plans for an attack in connection with the alleged threats, he said, although police have interviewed a student who said Myres had shown him a weapon months ago.
"It indicates that he does have access to some kind of firearm," Smith said. "A 17-year-old with access to a firearm making these kinds of threats, that's a cause for alarm."
Smith said that on April 9, a teacher overheard a number of students discussing the threats. The teacher alerted the school principal, who contacted police, Smith said.
Police interviewed the students and "eventually uncovered evidence that he [Myres] was going to conduct the shooting with an automatic weapon," Smith said.
Officers began searching that day for Myres, who does not have family in the area and lives in a house on Linden Street, Smith said.
No one answered the door at the house Saturday morning.
In a statement Saturday, Plainedge School District Superintendent Christine P'Simer thanked police and the students who had given information to school faculty and authorities.
Myres, who is charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony, was arraigned Saturday morning in First District Court in Hempstead.
He was ordered held on $25,000 bond or $25,000 bail.
Posted Sunday, April 18, 2010
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