An Ashland man is behind bars after a series of gunshots rang out in the borough Friday morning, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement and resulting in multiple felony charges.
Matthew Mabus, 33, of Ashland, was arrested and charged with Persons Not to Possess Firearms, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, False Reports to Law Enforcement, and Tampering with Physical Evidence following an incident involving multiple gunshots near 5th and Walnut Streets around 10:19 a.m. on Friday, May 23rd, 2025.
Ashland Police responded to reports of shots fired and initially encountered Mabus walking at Centre and 6th Street wearing a black sweatshirt, matching a witness description. Upon approach, Mabus raised his hands and lifted his shirt, indicating he was unarmed. He claimed to have heard the shots but denied any involvement.
Officers continued to investigate and located Amy Pass, identified as Mabus's girlfriend, wearing at 401 Walnut Street. Pass admitted to being at the scene and possessing a firearm but insisted she did not fire the weapon. She stated the firearm was inside the house.
Police then spoke with a witness on South 5th Street, who provided photographic evidence showing both Mabus and Pass at the scene. The witness reported witnessing Mabus fire the weapon four times and stated his girlfriend had been seen holding a black handgun.
Following this information, police detained Mabus, who initially denied involvement but later confessed, saying, "Yes, it was me, we got into an argument. I tried to take the gun from her and it accidentally went off." He directed officers to the firearm, a Smith and Wesson 9mm, which was recovered from a dresser drawer in the residence.
At the scene, officers recovered four 9mm Luger hollow point shell casings. The magazine of the recovered handgun contained nine rounds, consistent with Mabus's admission of firing four shots.
Several bystanders/residents were reportedly in the vicinity during the incident.
A background check revealed that Mabus has prior convictions, including Theft by Unlawful Taking in 2013 and Drug Possession in 2020, making him legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Mabus was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli and remanded to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail.