KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY — An 18-year-old Kingston man sat in Luzerne County Correctional Facility Saturday, unable to post $10,000 bail after police say he fired a semi-automatic handgun into the air near Wyoming Valley West Middle School.

Xavier Joseph Smazenuk faces a felony firearms charge and will appear for a preliminary hearing Dec. 30 at Luzerne County Central Court in Wilkes-Barre. The charges stem from a 1 a.m. incident Friday on Chester Street near Wright Avenue—a residential block adjacent to the middle school campus.

Kingston Police Chief Richard J. Kotchik said officers had four people in custody within an hour. Only Smazenuk was charged.

The chief said Smazenuk fired two rounds from the handgun while riding in a vehicle with three others. What prompted the gunfire remains under investigation.

No one was hit. The school was not targeted, and police said there was no ongoing threat to students or staff.

Multi-Agency Response

Officers from Edwardsville, Forty Fort, and Swoyersville assisted Kingston police in locking down the area and detaining the group.

“I would like to commend the swift and professional response of the Kingston Municipal Police Department patrol officers, as well as the assistance provided by the Edwardsville Police Department, Forty Fort Police Department, and Swoyersville Police Department,” Kotchik said.

Wyoming Valley West Superintendent Dr. Suppon notified parents Friday morning. The district operates normally.

What He’s Charged With

Officer Matthew A. Bonawits charged Smazenuk with:

• Firearms Not To Be Carried Without a License (F3) — carrying a concealed weapon without a permit
• Propulsion of Missiles Onto Roadways (M2) — discharging a firearm across or into a roadway
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person (M2)

Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer arraigned Smazenuk Friday morning and set monetary bail at $10,000. Court records show he could not post and was committed to county prison.

Police have not said where the weapon was recovered or whether the three others in the vehicle face any charges.

The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.