Indiana Borough police arrested a New Kensington man accused of assault and making terroristic threats while displaying a gun Saturday evening during the IUPatty’s student celebration held annually in the community.
Police said Adisun Lee Jackson, 22, who is not a student at local Indiana University of Pennsylvania, refused to leave a residence in the 200 block of Indiana’s South Seventh Street and displayed a firearm in his waistband during an argument on the rear porch of the apartment.
Jackson, who has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon, made hand gestures imitating a shooting, police said.
No one was injured in the incident reported shortly after 5:30 p.m.
Police seized Jackson’s handgun and charged him with terroristic threats, simple assault and criminal trespass. He was placed in the Indiana County Jail pending arraignment.
IUPatty’s is a student-organized weekend event not sanctioned by the university. It triggers increased vigilance by local first responders. State police at the Indiana County barracks said they planned to boost traffic and DUI enforcement and roving patrols.
Between 7 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Saturday, borough police arrested two IUP students for violating a noise ordinance for loud gatherings. They arrested five non-students for various violations, including a female suspect charged with kicking and spitting on officers during an arrest for public drunkenness and underage drinking.
IUPatty’s has been a sore spot among many in the community.
In 2023, 12 people were hurt when a second-story floor of an apartment collapsed during an IUPatty’s party in White Township, near but not on the university campus. Five people were treated at the scene and seven others were taken by ambulance for hospital treatment.
Other past incidents have included:
• IUPatty’s 2017: A man died and a woman was in critical condition following two shootings that police said were unrelated. Police arrested two suspects in the shootings, which occurred near the IUP campus.
• IUPatty’s 2014: Hundreds of college-age partiers fueled by alcohol — estimated to be more than 400 — packed South Seventh Street, where revelers taunted police and got into brawls that were videotaped and later posted online. Officials said many of those who caused problems were not university students.
