rifle seized
Jul 03, 2010
STRONG — Police accused a local man of shooting at birds and squirrels from his apartment window at a senior citizen complex.
Two of the bullets from the .22-caliber rifle lodged in a wall and a door at the on-site Laundromat.
Thomas McKechnie, 71, was summoned to court on a charge of reckless conduct Wednesday. County deputies were called to investigate by the owner of Valley Brook Senior Housing on Main Street who called to report gunshots.
McKechnie told deputies that he had not shot his rifle in three weeks, Franklin County Sheriff Deputy Matt Brann said Friday.
However, some residents told deputies that he had fired the gun the night before and that he does it regularly, Brann said.
He said he did not think McKechnie was threatening anyone. He was simply shooting at birds and squirrels on the bird feeders.
The problem was that one of the bird feeders was in line with the Laundromat, Brann said.
One bullet went through an exterior wall of the building and lodged in an interior wall, he said. Another round was lodged in the exterior door of the Laundromat.
SOURCE
Jul 03, 2010
STRONG — Police accused a local man of shooting at birds and squirrels from his apartment window at a senior citizen complex.
Two of the bullets from the .22-caliber rifle lodged in a wall and a door at the on-site Laundromat.
Thomas McKechnie, 71, was summoned to court on a charge of reckless conduct Wednesday. County deputies were called to investigate by the owner of Valley Brook Senior Housing on Main Street who called to report gunshots.
McKechnie told deputies that he had not shot his rifle in three weeks, Franklin County Sheriff Deputy Matt Brann said Friday.
However, some residents told deputies that he had fired the gun the night before and that he does it regularly, Brann said.
He said he did not think McKechnie was threatening anyone. He was simply shooting at birds and squirrels on the bird feeders.
The problem was that one of the bird feeders was in line with the Laundromat, Brann said.
One bullet went through an exterior wall of the building and lodged in an interior wall, he said. Another round was lodged in the exterior door of the Laundromat.
SOURCE
