Light saber mistaken for gun causes scare on Long Island college campus

EAST FARMINGDALE, Long Island (WABC) -- A Long Island college that went on alert over a report of a gun on campus says the weapon turned out to be a light saber.

Students and staff members at Farmingdale State College on Long Island were told to shelter in place Wednesday while police investigated a report that someone was assembling a rifle in a school parking lot.

Police said the call came in at about 9:40 a.m. The man was located just off campus and police said he did not have a weapon -- only the light saber.

College spokeswoman Kathryn Coley says the rifle was actually a "Star Wars" toy.

The man was not arrested or charged in the incident.

Photo: Google Maps

Farmingdale State is part of the State University of New York system. It has about 8,700 students.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.