Lawrence County man accused of hiding in woods to shoot at passing school van

A Lawrence County man has been charged with shooting at a van full of elementary-age children Tuesday morning in Shenango Township.

Township police arrested Bryon John Benetas, 41, for allegedly dressing in camouflage and hiding in the woods off Route 65 and firing several shots at the van transporting seven students.

Police said the Benetas had two guns when he was taken into custody and denied shooting the van.

Benetas was arraigned Wednesday morning before District Judge Scott McGrath and placed in the Lawrence County Jail after he was unable to post a $150,000 cash bond.

The incident occurred at around 9 a.m. Tuesday when a bullet shattered a side window of the Shenango Area School District van. The bullet passed through the van and shattered a window on the other side, according to authorities.

None of the students were injured. The district placed schools on a modified lockdown for several hours while police investigated the incident.

Benetas was charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, carrying a firearm without a license, possessing prohibited offensive weapons, possession of instruments of crime and simple assault.