Shooting Threat Ends With Hudson Valley Father and Son Arrested
A Hudson Valley teen who looked up to the people behind a school shooting tragedy was arrested after police say they found a host of dangerous weapons.
On Feb. 21, following a complaint received from Saugerties High School, Saugerties police began an investigation into several social media postings.
The posts, provided by Saugerties police, mentioned how the poster envied the people behind the Columbine massacre.
“I envy Eric and Dylan. It must’ve been so f…ing fun. They had the right f….ing idea. I’m so full of rage anymore. Nothing f….ing matters anymore” in another post “I feel as though I’m not the type of person you’d want to call your friend, but I firmly believe that you do want to call me your enemy. Just remember: when the shit hits the fan, there won’t be any time for mercy”
The post was seen by someone who shared them with a teacher at Saugerties High School. The teacher brought it to the attention of the school administration, who brought it to the School Resource Officer.
“In this situation, the mantra ‘If you see something – say something’ worked,” Superintendent of Saugerties Central School District, Seth Turner said.
Following the tip, police investigated and allege the post came from 18-year-old Connor Chargois, a senior at the Saugerties High School.
Police interviewed Connor and his father, 58-year-old Bruce Chargois. Connor admitted he wrote the post, but denied owning any firearms, police say.
Bruce also allegedly said neither he or his son owned or possessed any firearms. Adding there were no firearms, of any kind, in their home.
Those statements went against information police discovered in the investigation, police say.
On Thursday, police learned Bruce did have firearms in his home, but removed them after he was interviewed, authorities say.
Subsequently, police accompanied Bruce to his business Greco Brothers Amusement Co., where Bruce showed detectives where he hid five firearms, including a fully automatic 9mm Uzi and an AR15 Assault Rifle, according to Saugerties police.
A search warrant at the Chargois home allegedly yielded quantity of ammunition of varying calibers, homemade knives, machine fabricated gun parts, a prototype of a firearm that Connor Chargois admitted he was manufacturing in the basement of the house, and a number of completed homemade firearms in both .22 and 9mm caliber capacities.
Bruce was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, and two counts of misdemeanor of obstructing governmental administration.
Connor was charged criminal possession of a weapon, a felony. Additional charges are pending.
“Yesterday was a day for the good guys, “Town of Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra said. "Had it not been for the initial reporting of this event by the individuals whom had seen the original post, who knowns what the end result could have been.”
Both Bruce and Connor Chargois were arraigned in the Village of Saugerties Court. Bruce Chargois was released on his own recognizance, while his son Connor was remanded to the Ulster County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash bail. An order or protection was issued on behalf of the school district.
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