A Scranton man shot at six juveniles he encountered on the former Clarks Summit University property in South Abington Twp. on Monday afternoon, police charge.
Township police responded to 538 Venard Road at 3:34 p.m. for the report of a man — later identified as Afroyem Moskowitz, 29 — in a dark-colored pickup who fired at juveniles who were riding electric bicycles on a path around the pond on the grounds, officers said.
As officers traveled to the property, dispatchers informed them the juveniles fled to a residence in the township, police said.
South Abington Twp. Police Chief Paul Wolfe spoke with the juveniles while officers from several departments throughout the Abingtons sought the alleged shooter, officers said.
One juvenile told Wolfe they were riding their e-bikes on the walking path when they observed a man wearing black clothing and a hat driving a dark-colored pickup toward them, according to the criminal complaint. The juvenile said they heard the truck engine revving as the vehicle sped toward them, police said.
The juvenile told Wolfe they left the walking path and rode onto a dirt trail to get away from the truck, but the man continued to pursue them and started shooting at them out the window, officers said.
When officers located Moskowitz, he told them he didn’t shoot at the kids, but he shot at the ground, according to the criminal complaint.
Patrolman Darrell Silverstein then took the gun — a Glock 9mm caliber semi-automatic firearm — from Moskowitz’s waistband and officers arrested him, police said.
When asked if he had a license to carry a firearm, Moskowitz didn’t provide officers an affirmative answer and then stated, “I don’t want to speak to incriminate myself,” according to the criminal complaint. He also told officers, “I regret what I did,” per the complaint.
Three spent 9mm shell casings and one unfired 9mm round were found at the scene, officers said.
Silverstein responded to the property earlier in the day, at 1:56 p.m., for the report of a break-in at a building on the premises, police said. At the time, Silverstein spoke with Moskowitz, who was inside a 2017 charcoal grey Chevrolet Silverado pickup, officers said.
During an interview at the South Abington Twp. police station, Moskowitz — who told officers he is a maintenance worker at the property — said there had been intrusions on the property and said, “I didn’t fire at them and I never would,” according to the criminal complaint.
Police charged Moskowitz with a felony count of carrying a firearm without a license, six misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, and six misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person.
As of Tuesday, Moskowitz remained held without bail at the Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 8 at 10:30 a.m.
In April, a New Jersey man received approval from township officials to turn the property into a religious education center with a focus on the Jewish faith and teachings. The township’s zoning hearing board unanimously approved a special exception zoning permit and variance submitted by Kalmin Katz of Jackson, New Jersey, for the Abington Center for Education at 538 Venard Road.