Andrea Massa, 28, of Marshfield appeared in court Monday for allegedly bringing two guns to a Boston University commencement. Photo: Nicolaus Czarnecki/Metro
A Marshfield man was under the impression that he was licensed to carry two guns as well as two ammunition-filled magazines into Boston University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday, his lawyer said.
Andrea Massa, 28, was instead mistaken and pleaded not guilty on Monday tocarrying a firearm on school grounds, disturbing a school, disturbing a public assembly and a civil violation of the restrictions on his license to carry a firearm.
A judge ordered him held on $100,000 cash bail.
Massa was licensed to carry firearms for hunting and target practice, but that was it.
“He believed that was the license for all purposes,” Massa’s lawyer explained in court, adding that there was nothing in the police report to suggest there was “any form of a threat.”
Massa attended Sunday’s commencement with his wife’s family to watch his sister-in-law graduate. When he was about to go through a security checkpoint where he would be scanned by a handheld metal detector, Massa “objected loudly,” a prosecutor said, and Massa tried to leave.
“He caused a great security scare at the time,” the prosecutor said.
Boston University police stopped Massa and found him in possession of the guns, more than two dozen rounds of ammunition, a tactical flash light and a utility knife.
The wife of Andrea Massa (far back) attends a court hearing Monday. Photo: Nicolaus Czarnecki/Metro
Gov. Deval Patrick delivered the commencement address on Sunday.
“Boston Universitypolice and the security checkpoints worked very well,” said Colin Riley, a Boston University spokesman.
Massa’s family did not speak to reporters following the Monday’s court hearing.
Massa’s wife told WBZon Sunday that the incident was a misunderstanding and that they just received their firearm licenses.
Follow Michael Naughton on Twitter @metrobosmike.
