Security boosted at Patchogue-Medford High School after gun fired in off-campus fight

District officials and police were on high alert Monday at Patchogue-Medford High School following an off-campus gunfire incident late Sunday afternoon that is believed to have involved multiple students from the district in a fight in a parking lot, authorities said.

Suffolk County police said the incident occurred in a lot on Academy Street, just off South Ocean Avenue, in Patchogue, and said it was reported in a 911 call at about 5:10 p.m. According to the incident report, police said a "group of teens met up to engage in a fight" at the location. As the fight was dispersing, "an unknown person fired shots," striking a vehicle, police said. There were no reported injuries.

Police said Fifth Squad detectives were investigating the incident.

In a statement late Sunday to the school community, Patchogue-Medford district superintendent Donna Jones wrote: "The District was notified this evening by the Suffolk County Police Department that an incident took place in the community, off District property, involving gunfire and multiple Patchogue-Medford School District high school students."

The correspondence said the district had requested police presence Monday at the school on Buffalo Avenue in Medford.

Jones also informed the school community all AP exams would go on as scheduled, adding: "In an abundance of caution, the District will put in place additional security measures to ensure the security of our building and the safety and well-being of students and staff."

Check back for updates on this developing story.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”