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Seven Long Beach teens arrested in connection to fatal Oceanside stabbing

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Seven Long Beach teens were taken into custody on Friday in connection to the stabbing death of an Oceanside High School student last week, according to Nassau County police.

Police apprehended the teens and all were charged with first-degree gang assault for the Sept. 16 brawl outside an Oceanside strip mall that led to the death of 16-year-old Khaseen Morris.

Police arrested Haakim Mechan, 19, of East Fulton Street; Marquis Stephens Jr., 18, of East Pine Street;

Javonte Neals, 18, of East Pine Street; Taj Woodruff, 17, of East Fulton Street; Sean Merritt, 17, East Pine Street; and two 16-year-old juvenile males, also of Long Beach.

Police sources in Long Beach said that Nassau County police were out “in full force” on Friday searching for the suspects at homes on East Fulton Street and other areas.

The suspects were set to be arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Saturday — the same day as Morris's funeral. Police were expected to hold a news conference on Saturday.

Nassau County police arrested Lido Beach resident Tyler Flach, 18, days after the incident and charged him with second-degree murder in Morris's death. Flach, who is being held without bail, was indicted on murder and weapons charges on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Flach’s attorney Edward Sapone confirmed that his client has been charged with second-degree murder and a count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Flach is currently waiting to be arraigned in Nassau County Court on the indictment. He pleaded not guilty at his initial arraignment on Sept. 19.

Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick, commanding officer of the NCPD's Homicide Squad, said at a news conference on Sept. 19 that the dispute between Flach and Morris was over a girl who had recently broken up with one of Flach's friends two weeks prior to the altercation.

Fitzpatrick said that Morris and the girl were friends and that the girl’s ex-boyfriend, who was not identified, may have been jealous. Fitzpatrick added that Flach and his friends went to the strip mall to fight Morris. Flach, he said, took it to the “next level” and stabbed him. Video of the brawl went viral on social media.

Fitzpatrick added that police were searching for as many as seven other people involved in the incident, and sources told the Herald that some of the other teens involved in the attack are from Long Beach.

Fitzpatrick has said police are certain that Flach was the only person who committed the stabbing.

This is a developing story.