Man accused of attacking crossing guard in Darby, Pa., arrested in South Carolina

Police arrested a man who they say was caught on video attacking a crossing guard in Darby Borough, Pennsylvania, NBC10 confirmed.

The suspect — identified as Rashiem Russell — was arrested in Darlington, South Carolina, by the U.S. Marshals, officials announced. He is currently being held in the Florence County Jail in South Carolina and awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.

Rashiem Russell has been apprehended in Darlington, South Carolina by @USMS_Philly and the Carolinas Regional Task Force. Russell was wanted for the violent assault of a school crossing guard in Darby Borough. He is being held at Florence county jail waiting extradition to PA. pic.twitter.com/LJpbo4w6Nw

— U.S. Marshals Service Philadelphia (@USMS_Philly) March 20, 2026

Officials will reveal more details on the suspect and the arrest during a press conference on Friday, March 20, around 12:30 p.m. You can watch the presser live in the video embedded on top of this article.

The incident occurred Monday, March 16, around 3:50 p.m. outside Walnut Street Elementary School at the intersection of South 6th and Walnut streets.

Darby Police Chief Joe Gabe said that investigators believe a man became impatient with the crossing guard who had stopped traffic for kids on a bus.

The man blew his horn and revved his engine before storming out of his vehicle and approaching the guard, according to investigators.

Video obtained by NBC10 shows the man running after the crossing guard on the sidewalk. He then briefly stops and stands in front of her. The man then punches the crossing guard in the face, knocking her to the ground, before running off.

Video shows a man punching a crossing guard in the face in Darby Borough, Pennsylvania, Monday afternoon.

“There were children standing right there and he proceeded to assault a woman who was doing her job,” Risa Desilva-King, the CEO of Safe Corridors, the company that employed the crossing guard, told NBC10. “Completely unacceptable. Completely.”

The video of the attack went viral online, Darby Borough Police urged the public to help them find the attacker and Pennsylvania Senator Anthony H. Williams, who represents parts of Delaware County, including Darby, announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

NBC10 then confirmed Thursday that police had identified the suspect’s vehicle and had made significant progress in the investigation.

Then on Friday, March 20, police announced an arrest was made in the attack. They have not yet revealed the suspect’s identity.

Desilva-King said the crossing guard — who is in her 30s — resigned from her job after the attack. She also said the victim suffered a concussion.

“She did share with me that after the assault, she was knocked unconscious. And so she was laying on the ground for quite a few minutes before she regained consciousness,” Desilva-King said.

Desilva-King said the crossing guard is currently recovering both physically and mentally.

“I can hear the disappointment and the pain in her voice. And just the overall disgust,” Desilva-King said. “And like the question of like, ‘Why me?’ Right? Like, ‘Why did this have to happen to me? I was just doing my job.’ And she’s always done a great job.”

Desilva-King said her company is in the process of improving safety for their 60 crossing guards across Delaware County. They’re also in the process of getting them long-range walkie-talkies.

“Crossing guards are first responders. I don’t care what nobody else says,” Jonathan Abdur-Rahim King, the founder of Safe Corridors, said. “They are the first one to see your children when they’re leaving school. They are the last one to see your children when they’re departing, going home.”