Crime & Safety

Teen Accused of Making Terroristic Threat at Wantagh School

Police said that according to a witness, 18-year-old Joshua Barley wrote on the blackboard of Rosemary Kennedy School that he wanted to "assassinate the principal."

A Garden City South teen is accused of making a terroristic threat inside his classroom at the Nassau BOCES Rosemary Kennedy School in Wantagh Wednesday, according to Nassau County detectives.

Joshua Barley, 18, wrote on the blackboard that he wanted to "assassinate the principal and take over the school," according to a witness, police said late Wednesday.

The principal was informed and then notified police, according to a police report.

The Rosemary Kennedy School serves students ages nine to 21 with multiple and moderate to severe developmental disabilities including Autism Spectrum Disorders, developmental delays and Multiple Disabilities.

Nassau BOCES issued a statement following the arrest that read in part, "We have robust procedures for incidents of these kinds, and we followed them exactly. This includes coordinating closely with and taking direction from the Nassau County Police Department." 

Barley is being charged with making a terroristic threat, a D felony, and will be arraigned Thursday in First District Court in Hempstead.

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