Father Accused Of Bringing Loaded Gun To Ross School Remains Free

BRAINTREE, MA — The Braintree man accused of bringing a gun to Ross Elementary School will be allowed to remain free, with some conditions.

Matthew Vacher, 36, was arraigned in Quincy District Court Monday and was charged with carrying a firearm on school grounds and failure to properly secure a firearm. No additional bail was added to the $1,000 he paid after his arrest, but he was ordered by Judge Mark Coven to surrender all guns he owns, refrain from obtain in guns, surrender his firearms ID card and license to carry, stay away from all schools in Massachusetts, submit to GPS monitoring with all schools being exclusion zones, and, comply with any conditions from the state Department of Children and Families.

A request to have Vacher held until a GPS device was available was denied, as was a request to place him on house arrest.

Police received a report from Vacher’s estranged wife Friday morning that she was concerned about his mental health and he was in the Ross School office. When police arrived, they learned that Vacher was in the principal’s office and a secretary gave them a backpack that Vacher entered with.

When police searched the bag, they found a handgun with a loaded magazine. Vacher was then walked out of the building and transported to South Shore Hospital.

Vacher’s wife told police that the two are married, but in the process of a divorce. During a search of the home that Vacher once lived in with his wife, police found a shotgun and more shells in the basement.

Vacher’s attorney, Anthony Riccio, said that his client has firearms and a license to carry because he is an avid hunter and said Vacher was at the school to drop off his daughter.

At no time while Vacher was in the school did he threaten anyone or state that he had a weapon, according to a press release from Mayor Joseph Sullivan, Braintree Police, and Braintree Public schools.

Vacher’s license to carry has been suspended, Police Chief Paul Shastany told the school committee Monday night.

Vacher is due back in court July 13.

Image Credit: Dan Libon