Man with pocketknife sparks scare at Suffolk Community College’s Ammerman Campus
The man, believed to be in distress and claiming he was being chased, made his way to the third floor and locked himself inside a closet.
More Stories
A brief but frightening incident unfolded Monday afternoon at Suffolk County Community College’s Ammerman Campus in Selden, after a man carrying a pocketknife barricaded himself inside a closet in an administration building.
According to officials, the incident began around 12:15 p.m. when a man—who is not a student at the college—entered the Ammerman Building, which houses the school’s administrative offices. The man, believed to be in distress and claiming he was being chased, made his way to the third floor and locked himself inside a closet. He was reportedly carrying a pocketknife, though police say it was never displayed.
Law enforcement responded quickly and removed the individual from the building without incident. The Ammerman Building was temporarily shut down during the response but reopened shortly afterward.
Though the man did not make any threats, the situation raised concerns among students and staff, particularly in light of recent security issues at multiple Long Island high schools.
“I found it very shocking, honestly,” said student Addison Alexander. “I don’t expect a school that’s really gated and calm to be evacuated like that.”
“That makes me feel a little uncomfortable,” added student Kai Hughes. “Definitely not super safe.”
The person was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. His name has not been released, and as of Monday evening, no criminal charges had been filed.
