Teen Arrested in East Hampton After Threatening Gun Violence at Southampton Homecoming Party

Kevin S. Chavez, 19, of Bridgehampton was charged with falsely reporting an incident, a misdemeanor, after he posted on Snapchat with what appeared to be an AR-15

Oct. 7, 2018

Taylor K. Vecsey

A Bridgehampton teen was arrested in East Hampton Saturday night in connection with a threat of violence to be carried out at the Southampton High School Homecoming after-party.

Southampton Village officials said in a press release Sunday morning that a student alerted school security to a post on Snapchat of "three males in a vehicle posing with what appeared to be an AR-15 assault rifle and stating 'pull up to after homecoming SH,' while brandishing the weapon" at about 9:25 p.m.

There were about 110 students at the party at the school on Narrow Lane, police said.

The security personnel called village police at 9:34 p.m. Officers placed the school on "lockout," which mean no one could enter or leave the building until the threat could be properly assessed.

More than 20 officers, including New York State police and Southampton Town police, equipped with AR-15 rifles and two K-9 units assisted village police in securing the perimeter around the campus and closed off the entire street.

Students were released to their families under the supervision of police and school security without any issues, and the building and street were reopened by about 10:50 p.m., police said.

Meanwhile, an investigation led police to Oakview Highway in East Hampton, where they arrested Kevin S. Chavez, a 19-year-old who lives in Bridgehampton, at 11:56 p.m.

Police also recovered a replica AR-15, which turned out to be a Sig Sauer Airgun, at a residence off Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton. "This is the weapon that Mr. Chavez threatened to use via Snapchat," Detective Sgt. Herman Lamison said in the press release.

Mr. Chavez was charged with falsely reporting an incident in the third degree, a misdemeanor. He was released from police custody with an appearance ticket. He was then transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for a psychological evaluation, according to police.

The investigation is continuing. Police have urged anyone with additional information to contact Southampton Village police at 631-283-0056.