PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that a Taiwanese teenager accused of threatening an attack on a high school in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania has been charged federally.
An-Tso Sun (a/k/a “Edward"), 18, was charged yesterday by federal complaint with possessing ammunition while being in the United States on a nonimmigrant visa, which is a felony under federal law.
Sun is a Taiwanese national who came to the United States to live with an American host family and study at a high school in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. According to the complaint, on or about March 26, 2018, Sun told another student (identified in the Complaint as “Student 1"), “Hey, don’t come to school on May 1st... I’m going to come here armed and shoot up the school. Just kidding."
“When someone makes an alleged threat of this kind, law enforcement must take it seriously and investigate all leads," U.S. Attorney McSwain said. “Law enforcement is committed to doing everything in our power to stop an attack before it happens. We must keep our children and our community safe from harm."
Student 1 reported the incident to school officials, who then alerted law enforcement. According to the complaint, after the report of the threat, school officials and the Upper Darby Police called Sun’s host family to inform them of the alleged threat. Thereafter, Sun’s host-mother told police that she hired an attorney for Sun, returned home from work, and removed numerous items from Sun’s bedroom, placing them into a black duffel bag. She then allegedly brought this duffel bag to the attorney she had spoken with earlier in the day. According to the complaint, the duffel bag was later given to law enforcement and was found to contain the following:
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** One semiautomatic pistol, comprised of a Glock 19 9mm upper component (slide, recoil spring, and barrel) bearing serial number BESE280, and a Polymer80 brand lower component (frame) with no serial number;
** 44 rounds of 9mm Aguila ammunition;
** 615 rounds of 9mm Blazer Brass ammunition;
** 225 rounds of 12 gauge Federal shotgun ammunition;
** 280 rounds of 5.56mm IMI Systems ammunition; and
** 423 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm TulAmmo ammunition.
Upper Darby Police officers also executed a search warrant at Sun’s residence and seized from Sun’s bedroom: 20 rounds of 9mm Blazer Brass ammunition; one ballistic suit, including a vest, jacket and pants; one cross bow; seven arrows; and various firearm accessories and shooting equipment. Sun has been in custody in Delaware County since his arrest by Upper Darby police in March.
If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of ten years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.
“Thanks to the tremendous work of our local, state, and federal partners, a potential school tragedy was prevented," said Special Agent in Charge Marlon V. Miller, Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Field Office. “Homeland Security Investigations will continue to support all of our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of our communities."
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Upper Darby Police Department and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe.
An Indictment, Information or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
