Man Who Caused Salem State Lockdown Reaches Plea Deal

SALEM, MA — A man who set off a scare at Salem State University last summer will spend the next two years on probation after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm possession of ammunition, improper storage of a firearm, and carrying a firearm on school property.

Daniel Coleman Atchason, 36, of 1 Broad Street in Salem had originally been charged with the more serious charge of carrying a firearm without a license. A judge also sentenced him to two years in prison, with all but the 175 days he has already served suspended. A two year prison sentence was suspended, not including the 175 days.

In July, Salem State University and Salem police searched the Forest River Conservation area and the nearby MBTA tracks for nearly an hour after receiving reports of a suicidal male, possibly on a motorcycle and carrying a rifle, in the area. The search prompted Salem State to call a shelter-in-place order for its south campus.

Salem police recovered a rifle when they arrested Atchason. No one was injured in the incident and Atchason was taken to Salem Hospital for evaluation.