A lockdown was triggered at the Chester Park School Complex after a 20-year-old man, D’arrius Tyrese Edwards of Chester, crashed his car near the school and forcibly entered a classroom, officials said. According to WCNC, the suspect's vehicle was found crashed in a wooded area near the school shortly after 12 p.m. Edwards then moved to the school playground and gained entry into a classroom by breaking the glass window, where he grabbed a student.
The school’s resource officer confronted Edwards and deployed a taser to subdue him. Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey praised the officers for responding quickly during the dangerous situation and acting decisively to protect lives.
Edwards, who authorities say did not know the child or anyone in the classroom, is facing charges including assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, second-degree violent burglary, and kidnapping, QC News reports. The student involved was evaluated and found to be stable, with non-life-threatening injuries.
Following the incident, Tammy Snipes, interim superintendent of the Chester County School District, highlighted the actions of faculty and staff during the event. WCNC states that the district has scheduled an e-Learning day to review safety procedures and provide support to students and staff affected by the incident.
The Chester Park Elementary Complex has been secured, with an increased law enforcement presence. The Sheriff’s office, along with SLED and the FBI, continues to investigate the circumstances of the incident. The Island Packet notes that officials have not yet determined Edwards’s motive, which remains unclear after what was initially described as a "domestic incident."
