SCHOOL THREAT FOILED
UPPER DARBY » An 18-year-old foreign exchange student has been charged with threatening to shoot up Monsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Drexel Hill.
Upper Darby police have charged An-Tso “Edward” Sun with one count of making terroristic threats after he reportedly told a classmate of his plans, even though he would later admit to saying he was “kidding” about the act that he threatened to commit on May 1. Sun is a Taiwan native who is here on a student visa that was issued in July 2017 and is good through July 2022.
“We have zero tolerance for any threats in any of the schools,” Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood said at a press conference Wednesday morning announcing Sun’s arrest. “Anybody that makes any threat to shoot, bomb, (or) hurt anybody in a school is going to get locked up here.”
According to the affidavit of probable cause, school officials were alerted to the threat on Tuesday morning by a 17-yearold student who reported to a social worker what Sun allegedly told him Monday: “Hey, don’t come to school on May 1.” When the student asked why, Sun is reported to have replied, “I’m going to come here armed and shoot up the school.” Sun’s comments were then followed up to another student with, “Nah, I’m just joking with you.”
The information was brought to building administrators, who then contacted Upper Darby police, who responded to the school at approximately 9:30 a.m. Sun was taken to police headquarters and formally arrested at 1 p.m. He has been cooperating with officials and admitted to them what was alleged, Chitwood said.
A search warrant served on his host family’s home on the 200 block of LeCarra Drive turned up a small arsenal of military-style gear and weapons. Found in his bedroom, according to Chitwood, were a military-style ballistic vest, a web gear to hold clips on a person, cold weather gear, a crossbow with seven arrows, a loading dock for an AK-47 and AR-15, 20 live 9mm bullets, a military ski mask, ear protection and a strangling device called a garrote.
Chitwood could not confirm yet how Sun managed to procure the items.
“When you’re able to amass these types of items and you’re not even a citizen of the United States, and if you are a citizen and 18 years of age, something’s wrong somewhere; somebody’s not watching,” he said about Sun’s cache.
Police arrested Sun Tuesday afternoon and he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Robert Radano. Bail was originally set at 10 percent of $100,000 but was increased to a yet-to-beverified amount on Wednesday. Sun was remanded to the Delaware County prison and ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Enrique Latoison is listed as Sun’s attorney.
Latoison said Wednesday that his client is shocked by the charges over what was an honest joke.
“When you’re able to amass these types of items and you’re not even a citizen of the United States, and if you are a citizen and 18 years of age, something’s wrong somewhere; somebody’s not watching.” — Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood
“It was a mistake, a joke he made that he thought was funny,” Latoison said. He understood the hypersensitivity surrounding school violence as of late but that it was a big misunderstanding. He did not fault the student who reported the alleged threat to the school.
Of the items found in Sun’s bedroom Latoison said they were not illegal to have and that the military-style clothing was used for Halloween day at school.
Latoison said Sun had recently been accepted to a four-year college with law enforcement aspirations.
“There was no motive, no planning, and he was not upset,” Latoison commented on the ideas of bullying or potential retaliation for such behavior.
Also recovered was a schoolissued iPad that shows that Sun was looking up AK-47s and AR15s and had inquired with other students about how to purchase them. Further examination of the iPad is ongoing within the department. Sun is alleged to have displayed a bullet in the school at some time in February. A video has also been reported of him wearing a ski mask with a flamethrower, which has yet to be recovered by police.
“That gave us enough probable cause and enough credibility to go forward with our investigation,” said Chitwood about the amount of evidence collected
within the first 24 hours of the reported threat.
Frequently citing that it was an open, ongoing investigation, he declined to speculate on the exchange program that brought Sun to Upper Darby or the motive.
“He’s kidding was the motive,” Chitwood declared, but didn’t elaborate further. “He’s off the street, he’s in jail … The rest remains to be seen.”
Police have spoken to Sun’s host family, said to be a woman and attorney, but Chitwood could not divulge what their correspondence was because of that active investigation.
Chitwood complimented the swift work of Bonner and Prendie students and staff to report the incident, calling their actions a textbook example of what to do in an instance like this.
“(A threat) can, and has happened, anywhere in our country, and probably across the world, but I can’t emphasize enough that Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast is safe and I can’t commend the school enough for doing the right thing,” said Chitwood.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Ken Gavin released a statement Wednesday afternoon noting the importance of a school community working together to create a safe environment.
“Archdiocesan schools take the safety and security of every student, teacher, and staff member very seriously,” the statement read. “Thankfully, no one was harmed. Incidents such as this demonstrate the importance of all members of the school community working together to maintain a safe environment. School families received information about this matter yesterday afternoon.
“Parents have been asked to speak to their children and remind them that they should always report any suspicious activity immediately. They have also been encouraged to contact police if they have information that will be helpful to the ongoing investigation. The school continues to cooperate fully with the Upper Darby Police Department and is extremely grateful for their ongoing assistance and support. We value their dedication and partnership tremendously.”