'We Must Stand Together': Beverly Call For Unity After Jewish Threats

BEVERLY, MA — Mayor Michael Cahill and Chabad of Beverly-Salem Rabbi Mendel Barber called for unity against hate from residents across the North Shore on Tuesday after a Beverly man accused of making threats against the Jewish community was arraigned on more than a dozen gun charges in Salem District Court on Monday.

Beverly police said upon notification from the FBI National Threat Operations Center that Matthew Scouras, 34, posted several threats against people of Jewish faith on an internet image board, they got a search warrant for his Essex Street home and found a 9mm Glock "ghost gun" with no serial number, six boxes of ammunition, three large-capacity rifle magazines, 11 lower receivers for various rifles, a Nazi flag, more than $70,000 in cash and other various gun parts.

Scouras is accused of posting threats to rape Jewish women and encouraging other users of an online site to shoot people outside of synagogues.

"Hate and violence can have no place in Beverly, and we all must rededicate ourselves to living this every day," Cahill said in a statement released late Tuesday afternoon. "With a historic number of antisemitic incidents in the United States recorded in a one-year period last year, it is important now more than ever that we stand with our Jewish neighbors, and we reaffirm our commitment to fight antisemitism.

"The actions of one person do not represent our community, and we will continue to condemn antisemitism and all forms of hate, and to create a culture of belonging in Beverly."

Police said Scouras was taken into custody and held for a mental health evaluation and charged with the crimes on Saturday.

He was held without bail on Monday pending a detention hearing on Jan. 13.

"Right here in our backyard," Rabbi Barber said in a statement provided to Patch on Tuesday morning. "But, unfortunately, we're not surprised.

"It's a moment like this when we think that to this man every single one of us was exactly the same. He didn't discriminate between orthodox or not, or any level of observance."

Police said Scouras was charged with 12 counts of possession of a firearm without a license, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a firearm, threats to destroy a place of worship, willful communication of a threat with a gun and making a gun without a serial number.

Rabbi Barber called for unity and positive acts within Jewish circles on the North Shore and beyond.

"We must stand together, gain strength, and overpower the darkness with an abundance of light," he said. "We must do acts of goodness and kindness, acts of random goodness and kindness, for absolutely no reason. Just as the same senseless hate that this young man has is for absolutely no reason."

Barber thanked the FBI, Beverly police and Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur for "their swift action and attention to this matter" once the source of the threats were identified.

He also asked residents to reach out to Chabad of Beverly-Salem for any support needed.

Cahill also thanked law enforcement for "their professionalism and quick action in apprehending this individual."

"I ask our community to join in the critically important work of ensuring that Beverly is and always will be a safe home for all our residents," the mayor said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)