Larry A. Watts 
Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak said he was denied access to last year’s mental health report following an alleged threat made by the mass shooting suspect from Buffalo.
Korchak said Wednesday that Payton Gendron was questioned by state police about a year ago after the Susquehanna Valley High School student made disturbing comments about murder and suicide during an online class. .
Korchak said that although Gendron informed a teacher that his remarks were a joke, state police took the student to Binghamton General Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
At a news conference at his Binghamton office, Korchak said Gendron had been evaluated by a mental health professional. The district attorney said “we don’t have details of this report.”
Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak speaks during a press conference on May 18, 2022. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Korchak noted that the student was released to his parents and returned home. He was allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies because “at that time he was not a threat”.
Korchak said police, school officials and mental health professionals “don’t have a crystal ball. They can’t read into the future.” He said they could only assess Gendron based on the information they had at the time.
The district attorney said the case involved a 17-year-old student “who had never been treated for a mental illness to our knowledge.” He said a person can only be detained if they have been found to be “seriously mentally ill”.
Korchak said his office stands ready to provide assistance to Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, who is handling the case against Gendron for the Buffalo murders.
Contact Bob Joseph, WNBF News reporter: [email protected]. For the latest story development news and updates, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.
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