A Laureldale man was arrested after state police said errant gunfire from his target shooting Sunday evening struck an occupied Bernville\u2011area home.<\/p>\n
Justin A. Epler, 35, was free to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Tonya A. Butler in Reading Central Court. State police in Reading charged Epler with discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.<\/p>\n
According to the probable cause affidavit:<\/p>\n
Around 6 p.m., a Penn Township resident reported that shots were being fired toward his home. He told a trooper that he believed the gunfire \u2014 which he described as rapid succession \u2014 originated from a property south of his.<\/p>\n
He said bullets were whizzing past his residence and he was afraid to go outside. He suspected his home may have been struck but wasn\u2019t certain at the time.<\/p>\n
Trooper Julio Trejo went to the neighboring property, where he encountered Epler. Asked if anyone had been shooting, Epler \u2014 who had a pistol in a waistband holster \u2014 said he had fired about 100 rounds while target shooting.<\/p>\n
Epler agreed to show Trejo where he had been shooting. The trooper saw that the victim\u2019s residence was approximately 750 feet directly south of Epler\u2019s property.<\/p>\n
There was no designated backstop or berm, and the downrange area consisted primarily of wooded terrain.<\/p>\n
While speaking with Epler, Trejo was notified by state police dispatch that the victim had found a bullet hole in the exterior of his home.<\/p>\n
Trejo told Epler that he was taking possession of Epler\u2019s 9 mm pistol. The trooper went to examine the damaged home.<\/p>\n
The bullet had struck a PVC conduit housing the main electrical power lines before penetrating the siding next to a room occupied by the family.<\/p>\n
Trejo removed the projectile from insulation and returned to the neighboring property to take Epler into custody.<\/p>\n
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