APPLETON, Wis. (WFRV) – Police say one person is now facing criminal charges after negligently firing a gun Sunday morning inside an Appleton home.
According to a release from the Appleton Police Department, officers responded to a local residence with the residents claiming that a bullet had been fired into the home.
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Officials quickly determined that the bullet had entered the home from the residence next door through a shared wall.
An investigation revealed that one person in the neighboring home was demonstrating basic firearm handling to two others as they prepared for a trip to a shooting range. One of the other individuals was then said to have pointed a gun they thought was unloaded at the wall and accidentally fired off a live round.
Four people were home at the time the bullet went through the shared wall, including a young child and an infant. No one was hurt in the incident, however, police state that those in the home in which the bullet came from made no attempt to check on the well-being or safety of their neighbors.
Based on the findings of the initial investigation, officers say the person who negligently fired the gun is being referred to the Outagamie District Attorney’s Office for one count of Endangering Safety by Use of a Dangerous Weapon.
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The Appleton Police Department is using this incident to remind the community that the unsafe handling of weapons can result in life-altering consequences.
Officials state that at all times, firearms are to be treated with the “utmost respect.” Police encourage gun owners and anyone handling weapons to follow the following firearm safety tips:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Never assume a gun is unloaded. Always verify, and, if possible, have a second person confirm the firearm is clear.
- Have Good trigger discipline
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. This helps prevent any unintentional discharges.
- Always maintain control of where the firearm is pointed.
- Never point firearms at anything that is not meant to be destroyed.
- Know your target and what’s behind it.
- Bullets can penetrate walls, objects, and other barriers, causing unintended harm
No other information about this incident is available at this time.
