Two men were arrested and charged last week in connection with the alleged illegal sale of a gun. The crime is reported to have come to light after the a Croydon man jumped into a murky Philadelphia river and never surfaced earlier this year.
According to court papers filed by Bucks County Detectives, a stolen revolver was found in the backpack of Kyle McClean, 19, of Croydon, after he fled from authorities and jumped into the Schuykill River in March. Police said McClean dropped his backpack and cell phone in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station when an Amtrak police officer stopped to question him.
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When a Philadelphia police detective looked at McClean’s phone, he discovered text messaged between the 19-year-old and Levittown resident Joseph Beynon, 25. The messages talked about the purchase of a .45 revolver, which was sold for $350, police said.
Agents from the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General reportedly spoke with Beynon and he said he brokered a gun deal between McClean and Joseph Nelson, 24, of Levittown, in Bristol Township. Beynon denied making money off the sale or being there when the transaction happened, according to court papers.
Nelson was interviewed by agents of the Attorney General’s office and admitted to stealing the revolver from a lock box under the bed of a housemate on Maroon Road, Bristol Township in February and selling it, court papers say. They also said he said the gun was sold to McClean for $100.
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Despite a search from the ground and water, Philadelphia police were not able to locate McClean and presumed him dead.
Nelson and Beynon are both charged with receiving stolen property, conspiracy and a firearms sales charge. The two were arraigned and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.
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Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
