Teen who allegedly triggered shelter in place order at UMass Amherst held without bail
The teenager charged in connection with an armed robbery and assault at UMass Amherst that prompted a campus-wide shelter in place order last week was arraigned Monday afternoon and held without bail, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s office.
William McKeown, 19, of Framingham, is charged with armed robbery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and assault and battery, authorities said.
UMass Amherst issued the shelter in place order last Thursday after receiving a report of a “hostile armed person’’ in Pierpont Hall, a first-year dormitory. Police lifted the order later that evening, but continued to search for the suspect, who they said showed a handgun but did not fire it and assaulted a male student.
Police issued a warrant for McKeown’s arrest on Friday, and the teen, who does not go to UMass Amherst, turned himself in around noon that day.
Security footage allegedly shows a student letting two suspects, one believed to be McKeown and another who police know only as “Big Al’’ into the building. Police believe the two came to the dorm to sell marijuana to a student, but ended up stealing $120 from him after a disagreement, The Boston Globe reported.
The altercation escalated into an assault on the student, and police found him bleeding from the forehead after he was apparently struck with the butt of a gun. He was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton for treatment.
McKeown will be held without bail until Wednesday, when he is expected to return to Eastern Hampshire District Court, according to the DA’s office. Authorities said his bail will be set at that time.
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