Police have filed charges against a Schuylkill County man they say shot at a vehicle with a scoped pellet rifle earlier this month.
Two adults and a 2-year-old were inside the vehicle at the time.
According to an affidavit filed in District Court, Troopers from State Police-Frackville were dispatched to 120 Water St. in New Philadelphia on Sept. 13 for a report of shots fired at a vehicle.
Police say a 2015 white Mazda CX5 had a “wound” from a small object on its passenger side. The “wound” did not penetrate the metal, police say, but left an indentation that was similar in shape and size to what would have been caused by a small firearms projectile.
The mother of the suspect in this incident reportedly told police that her son, Martin Williams, 48, came home that day and told her to contact 9-1-1. She did and also heard people yelling in the street. When she went outside to see what was happening, the people began yelling and cursing at her.
Police say they then spoke with the suspect in this incident, Martin Williams, who was detained in the back of a patrol vehicle at the scene. Williams reportedly told police that he was on his way home and neighbors followed him up the street in a black vehicle. He told police that there was a lot of yelling between he and the neighbors so they contacted 9-1-1.
Williams also said that his neighbors kept walking past his house, cursing and yelling at his mother.
Police say they obtained permission to search the Williams’ home and on the third floor, where Martin’s bedroom is located, they found a black Gamo Whisperer DXII Velocity pellet gun with a scope next to a window facing the street.
The victims of this incident reportedly told police that they were visiting family in a home down the street that day. An argument broke out in the street between Williams and one of their family members.
Williams then allegedly said to the victims, “I’ll be back. I got something for you.”
The victims told police they attempted to leave with their 2-year-old son in their vehicle. As they passed Williams’ home, they reported hearing something loud hit the rear of their vehicle.
One of the victims in the vehicle told police they looked up and saw Williams in the third-story window of his home holding a firearm with an attached scope. They then saw Williams hit the window frame with that gun as he attempted to bring it inside and close the screen.
The victims say they returned to their family member’s home and contacted police.
Williams is now facing three counts of simple assault, three counts of reckless endangerment, one count of possessing an instrument of crime, and one count of criminal mischief, all misdemeanors. He’s been ordered to appear at a preliminary hearing on Oct. 28.
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