LI Man Threatened Taking Shotgun To Elementary School: Court Doc

ALBERTSON, NY — A Long Island man threatened to bring a shotgun to an elementary school, prompting school officials to place the building on lockdown Thursday morning, a court record shows.

In a criminal complaint filed by Nassau County police, a detective attests that Goran Preda, 42, of Williston Park told an employee at Meadow Drive School in Albertson: “How can you help me? How can you help me? I’m going to come there. I’m going to come there with a shotgun.” The employee “immediately became afraid” for their safety, as well as “the safety of the staff, and the safety of the children,” the complaint reads.

The conversation took place over the phone at about 1 p.m., and “school officials immediately initiated the school lockdown protocol and contacted 911,” police said.

Preda also called 911 and informed an operator of what he told the employee, and a disassembled shotgun and rifle were found at his home, according to the complaint.

The complaint is based upon a supporting deposition from the school employee, a recording of the 911 call, Preda’s admission, and the recovered shotgun and rifle, the complaint states.

It is not clear what transpired before the phone conversation because no further information was released by police.

Preda has been charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony punishable by up to seven years in state prison. He was represented by an attorney from the Nassau County Legal Aid Society at his arraignment on Friday afternoon in First District Court in Hempstead, according to a spokesman for Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Prosecutors requested $100,000 bail, and bail was set under a pre-trial arrangement that Preda is electronically monitored, Singas’ office said. A temporary order of protection was issued for the employee that received the threat, according to Singas’ office.

Preda is due back in court on April 16.

No further information was released by police.

School district officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

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