Man who wanted to ‘shoot up’ college enters treatment program
MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> A 21-year-old Chester County man who admitted to having thoughts of killing his family and plotting to “shoot up” the Haverford College campus was given two years of intermediate punishment and entered the Delaware County Mental Health Court treatment program last week after pleading guilty to one count of terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Frank Wang, of the first block of Elan Lane in the Wayne section of Tredyffrin Township, will have to adhere to a host of conditions under the plea agreement worked out by Assistant District Attorney Jenna Smith and defense counsel Robert Keller, which comes with no jail time.
Wang was arrested in late July as he exited a psychiatric hospital, according to Keller. He was charged with terroristic threats and released on 10 percent of $150,000 bail after waiving a preliminary hearing, but was placed on electronic home monitoring.
Frank Wang
Haverford Township Police Sgt. Christopher Chambers received information July 26 that Wang confided in another person that he thought about killing his parents and shooting up the college campus where he used to be a student, according to a release from Delaware County District Attorney Katayoun Copeland.
A search warrant was served at Wang’s residence, where authorities found no guns or other weapons. Investigators recovered a cell phone, computer and several flash drives, which were submitted to the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Cyber Crimes Unit for forensic analysis.
Prior to his arrest, Wang was voluntarily committed to Bryn Mawr Hospital’s psychiatric unit, where he received medication and mental health treatment, Keller said. During a session with a doctor there, Wang admitted to having prior thoughts of suicide, harming his parents and shooting up the college. Keller noted Wang never directly threatened to do any of those things, however.
Under the plea deal, Wang will now have to continue to receive mental health treatment from a private provider, which will submit regular reports to the court. Wang will also have to remain medication and treatment compliant over the course of his supervision, and stay away from drugs and alcohol. Wang said he is currently being prescribed Wellbutrin.
Wang is also not to have any contact with his former psychiatrist, the college campus, or Bryn Mawr Hospital except in emergency situations. If he follows all program directives, he may have supervision terminated after 24 months and eventually expunge his record.