Beverly Police Department Charges Man with Antisemitic Threats, Multiple Firearms Violations
A 9mm Glock handgun, numerous rifle parts, ammunition, and over $70,000 in cash that was located by Beverly Police during execution of a search warrant at the home of a Beverly man who encouraged others on an internet image board to shoot people outside of synagogues. (Courtesy Beverly Police Department)
Chief John LeLacheur reports that the Beverly Police Department, as a result of a tip from federal law enforcement, arrested and charged a Beverly man with numerous firearms charges and inciting others online to shoot people outside of synagogues.
MATTHEW SCOURAS, 34, OF BEVERLY, was arrested and charged with:
- Possession of a Firearm without a License (12 Counts)
- 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 Dangerous Item (a Firearm)
- Making of a Firearm Without a Serial Number
On Thursday, Jan. 2, the Beverly Police Department was notified by the FBI National Threat Operations Center that an individual with an address in Beverly posted several threats against people of Jewish faith on an internet image board.
According to information provided by the FBI, an individual at 527 Essex St. posted threats to rape Jewish women and encouraged other users of the site to shoot people outside of synagogues.
After an initial visit to the home, police obtained a search warrant for the home from Salem District Court. SCOURAS was taken into custody and held for a mental health evaluation.
The search located numerous items in a bedroom occupied by SCOURAS, including a cellular telephone, two desktop computers, a Nazi flag, a 9mm Glock “ghost gun” with no serial number, six boxes of ammunition, three large-capacity rifle magazines, 11 lower receivers for various rifles, other firearm parts, scopes, pistol frames, a jig used for drilling holes into polymer pistol handles, rifle stocks, and more than $70,000 in cash.
Under the most recent update to Massachusetts firearms laws, each lower receiver is legally considered to be a different gun.
A warrant was obtained for SCOURAS‘ arrest, and SCOURAS was taken into custody without incident Saturday.
SCOURAS was arraigned Monday and is being held without bail pending a detention hearing Jan. 13.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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