Ex-student arrested after she takes selfie in front of Hauppauge High School with imitation rifle, police say, prompting lockdown

Hauppauge High School enacted lockout procedures Tuesday after a former student posed with an imitation firearm in front of the building, police said.

The 18-year-old, of Hauppauge, allegedly photographed herself in front of Hauppauge High School around 11:20 a.m. Tuesday posing "with a spring-loaded imitation rifle," the Suffolk County Police Department said in a news release.

In a message issued to district parents, Hauppauge superintendent Donald B. Murphy said the district's security officers were alerted around 11:25 a.m. that an individual reportedly carrying "an object that appeared to be a firearm" was spotted on Lincoln Boulevard, near Veterans Memorial Highway. He added that "students and staff remained safe at all times" during the situation.

"At the time we were made aware of this report, SCPD was already in the area actively investigating the situation," Murphy said. "Out of an abundance of caution, both the middle school and high school were immediately placed into a 'lockout,' where all exterior doors to the buildings were securely locked, and no one was allowed to enter or exit the buildings. At approximately 12:30 PM, we received word from our partners at SCPD that it was safe to lift the lockout as they were able to locate and detain the individual in question. The object was determined to be a Gel Launcher, or toy gun, which can closely resemble a firearm."

The imitation rifle "fires gel projectiles through a spring loaded mechanism," a Suffolk County Police Department spokesperson told Newsday in an email.

No injuries were reported during the incident, police said in the release.

Police arrested and charged the 18-year-old with unlawful possession of a weapon on school grounds and endangering the welfare of a child. The former Hauppauge High School student was issued a desk appearance ticket, according to the release. She is expected to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip at a future date.

Check back for updates on this developing story.