Officials Praise 'Flawless' Response To Armed Man At Ross School

BRAINTREE, MA — School and police officials praised the response to Friday’s report of a person with a gun at Ross Elementary School.

Superintendent Frank Hackett said at Monday’s school committee meeting that the incident couldn’t have been handled better. Police responded to the school after receiving information that a person there may be armed. Police at the school allegedly found a gun in a backpack brought to the school by Matthew Vacher of Braintree. He was transported to South Shore Hospital and later arrested. His case is now pending in Quincy District Court.

Police Chief Paul Shastany said at no time was the weapon used or mentioned and there was no intention of harm.

“This was not a planned act or an averted tragedy. It was a dangerous act that was concerning,” Shastany said. “This was an excellent response. At no time during the response was anyone in danger.”

Hackett added that the situation was about an adult who needed help and the weapon was incidental to the fact that Vacher needed some emotional support.

School committee member Jennifer Aborn Dolan said that some parents of Ross School students she spoke with called the response flawless.

“It’s flawless because we understand what our roles are. That was one of the most important parts of this, how the staff handled it. It was a great response. (School) staff made it look easy,” Shastany said.

Mayor Joseph Sullivan thanked everyone involved and said he hopes that uniformed security measures for schools will be discussed on the statewide level.

“My hope is we can work in a very positive way,” Sullivan said.

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