Teen fatally stabbed in after-school brawl at strip mall in Nassau County, Long Island
OCEANSIDE, Long Island (WABC) -- A teenager was fatally stabbed in an after-school brawl at a strip mall on Long Island Monday.
Police said the brawl, involving as many as 50 teens, broke out around 3:45 p.m. in front of Bagelville on Brower Avenue in Oceanside, a short distance from Oceanside High School. Police said the fight appears to have started over a girl.
During the scuffle, 16-year-old Khaseen Morris, a student at Oceanside High School, was stabbed in the chest. He was taken to the hospital, where he died. A 17-year-old suffered a broken arm during the melee.
An eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, told Eyewitness News that Morris was ambushed.
"There was a bunch of people sitting by the Chinese restaurant ... about 15 kids, and then all of a sudden while I was on the phone speaking, eight -- seven or eight kids came from the north and targeted certain people that I believe they were looking for," the man said.
Police also said this appears to be a targeted incident and said Morris had received texts that he could be threatened if he showed up here.
They are searching for six to seven assailants from different schools, and persons of interest are in custody.
"I don't think anybody here is naive to who is involved in this incident. I think all the players are known to each other," said Det. Lt. Stephen Fitzpatrick of the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad.
Video of the attack that's been circulating on social media is being used as part of the investigation. Police said many kids decided to take video, rather than help.
Sadly, the victim's family has seen the video too.
"He was a person that would help anyone, and no one helped him," said Keyanna Morris, Khaseen's sister.
Keyanna said her brother walked a girl home from a party Sunday night and then started receiving threats. She said Khaseen would not have anticipated that someone would stab him.
For the Morris family, the timing of Khaseen's death was cruely ironic.
"He told my mom this is the first time in so long that he's been so happy because he finally found a school where he could be himself with nobody judging him," she said.
The Oceanside High School community is also grieving the loss of Morris.
"We have counselors in place to support all of our students and faculty. We have reached out to the family to let them know we are here for them and to offer whatever assistance we can," Oceanside School Superintendant Phyllis Harrington said in a statement.
Victoria Lizama, a student, said the school was quiet and most kids weren't talking.
"Students are crying in the hallway," she said.
This attack has also put parents on edge.
"You know you gotta watch more," said Oceanside High School parent Anna Vargas. "My daughter going to high school. So you gotta watch more, where they're going, who's their friends."
It is unclear whether the incident is gang-related. So far there have been no arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
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