Federal Charge For Exchange Student Who Threatened Delco School

DREXEL HILL, PA – Federal officials announced a new charge filed against Taiwanese foreign exchange student An-Tso "Edward" Sun, who earlier this week pleaded guilty to making a shooting threat toward his Delaware County high school in March.

U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said in a press conference Wednesday that a federal complaint has been filed against Sun, 18, who lived in Lansdowne while studying at Monsignor Bonner and Archbishop Prendergast High School in Drexel Hill.

Sun now faces a federal charge for possessing ammunition while in the United States on a non immigrant visa. He is in federal custody now.

McSwain said if Sun is convicted of the new charge, it will permanently ban him from entering the United States after he is deported. Any federal sentence imposed will be in addition to the sentence handed down in Delaware County, which was four to 23 months in prison. However, Sun was granted parole in advance of federal case and deportation.

Upper Darby Police found about 1,660 rounds of ammunition – including 12-gauge shotgun shells, 9mm rounds, AR15 and AK47 rounds – after a student at the school told officials Sun said he would shoot up the school May 1, but said said he was joking.

After the report of the threat, school officials and the police called Sun’s host family to tell them of the alleged threat, federal authorities said.

Then, Sun’s host-mother told police that she hired an attorney for Sun, returned home from work, and took numerous items from Sun’s bedroom. She put those items them into a black duffel bag then allegedly brought this duffel bag to the attorney she had spoken with earlier in the day, according to federal officials.

Police also found a crossbow with arrows, a military vest, a strangling tool, a loading device for AR15s and AK47s, a black ski mask, a backpack with ammo pouches, and more.

Sun pleaded guilty to making terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize others on Monday, June 4 in a Delaware County court.

Federal authorities said they have 30 days to draft an indictment and in that time additional charges could be filed.

"Thanks to the tremendous work of our local, state, and federal partners, a potential school tragedy was prevented," said Special Agent in Charge Marlon V. Miller, Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia Field Office. "Homeland Security Investigations will continue to support all of our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and security of our communities."

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Upper Darby Police Department and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah M. Wolfe.

Image via Upper Darby Police