3 Pottstown High Students Charged After Alleged On-Campus BB Gun Assault, Say Police

Three Pottstown Senior High School students who allegedly drove onto their Pottstown campus and discharged a BB pistol on Oct. 24, injuring two other students, have been charged with criminal conspiracy—aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and stalking, amongst other charges, according to Pottstown police.

High school seniors Dayon Mohler, 18, and Najee Johnson, also 18, had their preliminary arraignments on Oct. 29 in the court of magisterial district judge Edward C. Kropp Sr. in Pottstown.

Police say that the third defendant, a 17-year old senior at the high school, is “pending” in the juvenile justice system.

After their arraignments the two adult defendants were released on $25,000 bail, say police.

Police say that the teenagers were all charged with criminal conspiracy—aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal conspiracy—simple assault and stalking.

Mohler was additionally charged with possession of a weapon on school property and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. The juvenile was also charged with possession of a weapon on school property.

According to an Oct. 25 email penned by the district superintendent Jeffrey R. Sparagana, which was sent to the school’s parents, two students were thought to have been injured during the incident. According to the email, all five of the students were members of the school’s football team, the Trojans.

One of the victims was said to have received a scalp wound and the other victim was said to have been injured in his back; neither student was seriously injured, according to the email.

After a noon school dismissal on Oct. 24 the three accused students are said to have driven in Mohler’s car in the area of East Street and Evans Street, according to The Mercury. Both of the victims reported to police that Mohler’s car drove past while they were playing catch, and one of them was hit in the head after a BB pistol was discharged from the car.

The victims told police that they decided to go to football practice and the car came by them again, with more BB shooting. Police said that one of the victims told them that the car pulled up to the victims, rolled the windows down, and they were again shot at.

The victims told police that, while they were in the locker room before the football practice started, Mohler, Johnson and the juvenile entered, bringing bags.

Police said that one of the victims told them that he fled the locker room when the three students came in. Police said that the other victim said that Johnson asked if the other football team members had an issue, and, after the victim said something, Johnson went towards him.

It was said that Johnson seized the victim and yelled at Mohler and the juvenile to get his new BB pistol, say police. According to police, Johnson demobilized the victim while the juvenile shot the BB pistol.

At the time, Mohler and Johnson had been suspended from school and were not eligible to play on the team.

John Armato, Director of Community Relations for the district, relayed on Oct. 25 that the students would be suspended for 10 days, after which the school would determine a final punishment.

Mohler’s car was searched, after which over 20 bags of marijuana, BBs and a carbon dioxide canister were found, say police.

According to court documents, Mohler and Johnson have preliminary hearings scheduled for Nov. 14 in the court of Magisterial District Judge Edward C. Kropp Sr., who presided over their preliminary arraignments.

The 17-year old juvenile is “pending” in the juvenile justice system, say police.