A man was arrested Sunday after trying to get into Boston University’s commencement ceremony with two loaded handguns.
At about 1 p.m., Andrea Massa, 28, of Marshfield, was stopped at a security checkpoint and was found with two loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm semiautomatic handguns in his possession, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.
A Boston University Police Department officer stopped Massa at the checkpoint and asked another officer to screen him with a metal detector, the DA’s office stated in a press release.
Massa, who was dressed in black with military-style pants and a zippered sweatshirt, allegedly objected to the security screening “loudly and abruptly, drawing the attention of students, guests and officers,” according to the press release. Officers stopped Massa on Commonwealth Avenue and observed a bulge in the rear of his waistband, which was the first of two handguns they recovered. Officers also recovered two spare magazines of bullets from a pouch on Massa’s belt. In total, Massa was carrying 28 rounds of ammunition.
BU spokesman Colin Riley said no threats were made to anyone at the ceremony.
Massa was arraigned in Brighton Municipal court on Monday. He pleaded not guilty to charges of disturbing a public assembly, disturbing a school function and carrying a weapon on school grounds. Massa is licensed to carry a firearm for hunting and target practice, but was accused of violating the terms of his license in court. He is currently being held on $100,000 cash bail, at the request of prosecutors.
Assistant District Attorney Michael Glennon provided the court with a 2003 incident report by the Scituate Police Department documenting statements in which Massa allegedly expressed a desire to “shoot all of my teachers,” the DA’s press release stated.
Massa spoke with the court clinician during his arraignment, but was not sent for any further medical or mental evaluation.
Massa’s next court date is set for June 19.
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