NYC student, 16, pledges to shoot up school on social media, found with loaded gun after Instagram steps in

A frightening incident unfolded at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Queens when a 16-year-old student was caught with a loaded semiautomatic handgun after making a disturbing post on social media. The student, who remains unnamed, shared a picture of a mannequin sketch on Instagram with the caption “TS GMT boutta shoot the school up.” The post was flagged by Instagram moderators, leading to the FBI tracing the phone number associated with the account.

Authorities believe that the student was on school grounds when he made the threatening post. The abbreviated “TS GMT” in online slang commonly translates to “this s–t gets me tight.” Just two hours after sharing the post, the student was found on school grounds with a loaded semiautomatic handgun. Thankfully, no one was injured during the incident, and the student was taken into custody without any resistance.

In addition to the loaded handgun, the 10th grader was also found with three cellphones in his backpack, including one sealed in a school-provided pouch. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed that the student had no prior criminal history. Tisch expressed her shock and concern as a mother of young school-aged boys but reassured the public that the NYPD is committed to keeping children safe.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams praised law enforcement for their swift action, stating that the incident was a perfect example of the system working effectively. He emphasized the importance of preventing such incidents and addressing the radicalization of young individuals. Adams urged parents to be vigilant and involved in their children’s lives to prevent them from being influenced by dangerous ideologies.

The near-disaster at Benjamin Cardozo High School serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in protecting students from violence and radicalization. Mayor Adams called for a renewed commitment to safeguarding children and addressing the root causes of such dangerous behaviors. The incident serves as a wake-up call for the city and the country as a whole to address the growing trend of younger individuals engaging in violent acts.