Police: 10-Year-Old Student Charged In Pepper Spray Incident At L.I. School
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) – A 10-year-old boy has been charged with unlawfully possessing a noxious material after police said he discharged pepper spray in the hallway of his Long Island elementary school, sending two dozen people to the hospital.
The boy, who has not been identified, was released to the custody of a family member, Nassau County police said. He is due in court in November.
The incident happened around 11:20 a.m. Thursday at the Northern Parkway Elementary School in Uniondale.
In all, 20 children and four adults were taken to the hospital and treated for eye and throat irritation. The student who allegedly released the pepper spray was among those injured, officials said.
"Shortness of breath, nausea, just general discomfort" were among their symptoms, said Uniondale Fire Chief John Skelly.
The district said the school was evacuated as a precaution. Within 40 minutes, hazardous materials teams tested the air quality and deemed it safe for classes to resume.
All 24 of the students and faculty members were treated and released from the hospital early Wednesday afternoon.
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