PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Police in Delaware County have arrested a man they say pulled a gun on a group of teens after they hit his car with a snowball following one of the recent winter storms.
On March 2, police said three teenagers in Prospect Park were at the corner of Chester Pike and Lincoln Avenue when one of them threw a snowball at a car. Instead of driving off and reporting the incident, police said the driver took matters into his own hands.
“He stopped abruptly, used the parking lot to turn around and catch up with the teens who had crossed the street,” said Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna. “When he caught up to them, he displayed a firearm and stated something to the effect of, ‘You want to throw something? I also have something to throw.’”
The suspect eventually left the kids alone, but they were shaken up. The 15- and 16-year-olds later told a police resource officer at their school about the incident.
An investigation followed, and police arrested 37-year-old Joshua Kelly earlier this week on terroristic threats charges.
“We were able to utilize videos of the intersection as well as license plate reader technology,” Madonna said. “Once he was identified, the warrant was placed for his arrest. He was taken into custody in a neighboring jurisdiction.”
Madonna said this incident could have ended a lot worse.
“You can’t begin to know what’s going on in the mind of somebody you may cross paths with, interact with,” he added.
The teens are not facing any charges.