Smithtown High School West cancels 'Safe Halloween' days after teen arrest involving weapon

The Smithtown School District sent out this letter to parents Thursday morning stating its safe Halloween celebration was canceled. The district thought it would be inappropriate for the district to have people dressed up in costumes or disguises after, quote, recent events. A 16 year old was arrested Tuesday after allegedly bringing a gun, bullets and a knife into Smithtown West High School. One day later, no credible evidence of an additional rumored threat at the school was found. This is scary for the parents, too, because you send your kid to school. You think they do good things, but they make mistakes. It's 16 years old. It's so sad. But Thursday's soccer playoff game continued. The district says all security resources went toward the game. A Suffolk County police officer, including school security, scattered across the field were seen at the game. But some people say it's unfortunate students had to sacrifice their Halloween event. It's hard to balance one with the other. Just feel for the kids that are involved and are missing out on. Things that should be in their lives. The school district tells News 12 it has nearly doubled its annual security budget, which made controlled building access, security technology, and armed security outside schools possible. And I don't want to make it so stringent on the kids that are good, you know, but of course you want to keep the kids safe. In Smithtown, Suffolk County, Daniela Rodriguez, News 12.