A Phoenixville father is facing criminal charges after police say his child showed up to Hares Hill Elementary School on Monday, April 13, with a loaded semi-automatic handgun sitting in their backpack. The child discovered the gun, went to a counselor, and school staff quickly secured the bag until officers arrived. No one was hurt, and authorities said the father told investigators he had accidentally put the firearm into the wrong backpack. An arraignment is scheduled for April 23.
Prosecutors told CBS Philadelphia the handgun was loaded with five rounds, and the student recognized it as belonging to a family member. The Chester County District Attorney's Office has charged 58-year-old Russell Matthews with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.
Phoenixville Area School District Superintendent Melissa McTiernan said staff followed established safety protocols and that “at no time did the gun leave the backpack,” according to NBC10 Philadelphia. East Pikeland Township police were called to Hares Hill Elementary at about 12:15 p.m., and Matthews was taken into custody, local reports say.
Charges and the Law
In Pennsylvania, endangering the welfare of children is defined in 18 Pa.C.S. 4304. It can be charged as a felony of the third degree if the conduct creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury. Reckless endangerment is addressed in 18 Pa.C.S. 2705. Penalties depend on the grading of the offenses, the circumstances, and any prior criminal history, and prosecutors decide how to proceed based on the specific facts of each case.
Matthews was booked and is scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on April 23, court records show, according to NBC10 Philadelphia. Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe thanked school staff and police for acting quickly to ensure Hares Hill Elementary remained safe, CBS Philadelphia reported. The school district said it is continuing to work with the student's family and local law enforcement as the case moves forward.
