Derry Borough mayor accused of pointing gun at boy who got into fight with son

DERRY BOROUGH, Pa. — The mayor of Derry Borough is accused of pointing a loaded gun at a 15-year-old boy who allegedly got into a fight with his son, authorities said.

The incident happened about 8:30 p.m. Sunday at a park along Broad Street after a fight involving three boys, police said.

According to police, Mayor Kevin Gross showed up at the park with a revolver and allegedly ordered one of the boys to his knees with his hands above his head. The boy told investigators the gun was pointed directly at him.

Gross is also accused of pointing the gun at three girls who were at the park, telling them to put their cellphones and other belongings on a bench, investigators said. He would not allow them to call their parents.

“Now, I’m kind of worried. I don’t want my kids playing over there anymore, especially knowing that the mayor lives up the street,” Aneesa Martinez, a neighbor, said. “You don’t know his mindset, bringing a gun toward a kid.”

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Parents and neighbors intervened before police arrived.

“We wanted to keep everything calm,” Paul Luna, a neighbor, said. “He was pumped up a little bit. I could tell he was very serious. I don’t know what his intentions were.”

Police said Gross admitted to pointing the gun at the boy. He surrendered the gun to police and was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison.

Gross is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Channel 11 has learned that the fight between Gross' son and the other boy was over a marker.

Because Gross is an elected official, the only way he can be removed from his position is to resign of if the governor intervenes.

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