High Bail for Man Who Allegedly Brought Two Firearms to BU Commencement

BOSTON, May 19, 2014—A man was held on high bail today at his arraignment for allegedly bringing two loaded firearms to the Boston University commencement ceremony yesterday in violation of state law and his license to carry, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

ANDREA MASSA (D.O.B. 9/30/85), who claims addresses in Marshfield and Scituate, was arraigned today in Brighton Municipal Court on charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm on school grounds, disturbing a school, disturbing a public assembly, and violation of a firearm license restriction.

Assistant District Attorney Michael V. Glennon recommended $100,000 cash bail and, if he posts that amount, orders that Massa wear a GPS monitor, surrender his firearms, stay away from all academic institutions, submit to checks for weapons in his home, contact a probation officer once a week, and notify probation officers of any change in his residence. Judge Patricia Bernstein granted all of those requests except the weapons checks.

Based on Massa’s arrest, authorities have moved to suspend his license to carry, which was issued out of Scituate in 2011. The license allows him to carry concealed firearms for hunting or target practice only. Under Massachusetts law, a violation of that license restriction is a civil offense with a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine.

Glennon also provided the court with a 2003 incident report by Scituate Police documenting statements in which Massa allegedly expressed a desire to “shoot all of my teachers.”

Massa is accused of carrying two Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautomatic handguns to yesterday’s ceremony. Both weapons were loaded, as were two additional magazines he was also carrying. The two loaded weapons and two additional magazines contained a total of 28 rounds of hollow-point ammunition.

A Boston University Police officer stopped Massa at the security checkpoint area and asked another officer to screen him with a metal detector. Massa – who was dressed entirely in black with military-style pants, a zippered sweatshirt, and scarf – allegedly objected to the security screening process loudly and abruptly, drawing the attention of students, guests, and officers. He turned and began to walk away while apparently texting on his phone.

Concerned for the safety of those at the event, officers stopped him on Commonwealth Avenue and observed a bulge in the rear of his waistband. That bulge turned out to be the first of two loaded handguns recovered from his person. Officers also recovered the two spare magazines from a pouch on his belt and his license to carry from a wallet strapped to his wrist.

Boston University Police were assisted by Boston Police and other law enforcement agencies in fast-breaking efforts to determine whether there was any threat to harm attendees at yesterday’s commencement. They could find no evidence of any such threat.

Massa was represented by attorney Charles Humphreys. He will return to court on June 19.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.