Man arrested for brandishing firearm in Mercer County

Mercer County schools were on lockdown for one hour Tuesday while police apprehended a man brandishing a firearm and making homicidal and suicidal threats.

Mercer state police arrested the man, identified as Robbie Abraham, 19, of Mercer, at 1:50 p.m. in the 300 block of Vickerman Road in East Lackawannock Township.

In a press release, police said they had received a call from Abraham’s mother stating the teen had a gun and was homicidal and suicidal. Abraham had left a residence and his mother had tried to confront him while he was walking along Route 318, police said.

The woman said Abraham had pointed a gun at her and threatened to kill her before firing the gun in the air and threatening to shoot himself, according to the release. She then drove up the road and called 911 while Abraham fled, police said.

Law enforcement officers from several departments – including state police from Mercer and New Castle, the Mercer County sheriff’s office, Pennsylvania State Parole and Mercer Borough police – responded to assist.

Officers saw Abraham walking on Vickerman Road and took him into custody. Police said the man still had the firearm and initially refused to drop it before eventually complying with police. He had a loaded revolver and a knife in his possession, police said.

Abraham was charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned before district judge Lorinda L. Hinch and taken to the Mercer County jail on a secured bond.

Police said their investigation is continuing.