Student Arrested After Loaded Gun Found at Cardozo High School

A 16-year-old student at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School in Bayside was taken into custody Thursday after school safety agents recovered a loaded 9 mm handgun from his backpack following an online threat.

Officials raced to the Queens campus at 11:45 a.m. after Instagram moderators flagged the sophomore’s message promising to “shoot the school up,” and the FBI alerted NYPD to the danger.

Threat detected and neutralized The student was quietly removed from class, escorted to an empty room and disarmed without incident, school safety officials said. No injuries were reported.

Swift law-enforcement response Mayor Eric Adams praised the coordinated efforts of social media monitors, the FBI and NYPD, calling the outcome “the perfect example of the system functioning effectively.” He urged New Yorkers to continue reporting suspicious activity.

Investigation underway Authorities are reviewing the student’s social media history and interviewing witnesses to determine motive. The 16-year-old, who has no prior record, faces weapons and terroristic threat charges.

Community reaction

• Parents and students expressed relief that the threat was averted without harm.
• School counselors have been made available for students shaken by the incident.

School officials emphasized that random bag scans and safety drills will continue as part of ongoing efforts to protect against violence.