Police presence has been increased at Binghamton High School following a fight near the campus involving a gun.Two teenagers have been charged following a physical fight, a police foot pursuit and the interception of an illegal firearm in the area of the school.
The Binghamton Police Department’s School Resource Officer assigned to the high school responded to a fight he observed around 3:10 p.m. on April 23 off school grounds near the intersection of Oak and Main streets, according to a BPD press release.
Two people were engaged in a physical altercation on the ground and took off on foot when the SRO approached the scene. The SRO reportedly observed one person, who was later identified as Ramier I. Rainey, 18, of Binghamton, enter an alleyway between buildings at 50 and 52 Main St. Rainey was allegedly in possession of a handgun which he passed off to another person, later identified as a 14-year-old high school student, in the alley. The 14-year-old was not involved in the initial altercation.
Rainey fled the alley while the 14-year-old boy was detained by the SRO and taken to Binghamton Police Headquarters. The other unnamed person involved in the original physical fight had fled the area before additional police personnel arrived to assist. Rainey later turned himself in to the police at about 10:30 p.m.
The firearm recovered from the 14-year-old boy was a loaded semi-automatic handgun, which was an un-serialized “Privately Made Firearm,” commonly referred to as a “Ghost Gun.”
Rainey was charged by Binghamton Police Detectives with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The 14-year-old was also charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Rainey was held in Binghamton Police custody to await arraignment before Binghamton City Court and the 14-year-old was released to his guardian awaiting further proceedings in Broome County Family Court.
The Binghamton Police Department said officers are working with Binghamton City School District Administration to “continue preventative policing and safety efforts in the community, and specifically in the area of the Binghamton High School campus.” Additional police presence and resources were directed to the area of Binghamton High School.
This remains an ongoing investigation. The Binghamton Police Department asks anyone with information to contact the Binghamton Police Department Detective Bureau at 607-772-7080.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Police presence heightened at Binghamton HS after fight, arrests
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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