Toy gun caused school lockdown

Police find 'Nerf' gun after Elmont High School search

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After an extensive search of Elmont Memorial High School on Tuesday morning, the scare that caused the lockdown of the school all morning long turned out to be a lime-green and yellow lever-action Nerf gun. The toy was found in a student's locker. There were no arrests. The toy was confiscated by school officials and, police say, will be returned to the student's parents.

Police ended the search at about 1 p.m. for what they thought could have been a weapon at Elmont Memorial High School. 

Police told the Herald at the scene that a call came in about 7:30 that there was a student with a gun in the school. 

The Superintendent of Schools for the Sewanhaka Central High School District, Dr. Ralph Ferrie, told the Herald Tuesday morning that a parent who was dropping off a child at school Tuesday morning saw a student put what appeared to be a lime green and black gun into his backpack and go into the school building. The parent called 911 and police responded. 

The superintendent said that police were searching students and lockers to find that student and weapon. He said police responded quickly and that lockdown protocols were immediately followed.

The superintendent told the Herald that students were locked in with their teachers and were safe all throughout the lockdown. 

Special Operations Bureau officers and police dogs were deployed to the scene. Police were on scene from the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth precincts. 

The school is at 555 Ridge Road.