Published: March 27, 2008 09:04 pm            

Man arrested after shots are fired downtown

Somerset — Somerset Police are investigating two incidents in which shots were fired in downtown Somerset early Thursday morning.

The bullet from one shot barely missed a young boy who was sleeping in his apartment.

While it isn’t clear who fired the shots, police have arrested one individual — Antonio “Tony” Hill, 30, of Somerset — on a charge of possession of a handgun by a convicted felon.

The first incident occurred at 1:09 a.m. Thursday, when five shots rang out in the South Central Avenue area. Somerset Police Officer Greg Martin, who was outside the nearby police department, heard the shots and responded to the area “almost immediately,” said Detective Shannon Smith of the SPD.

The individual who fired the shots could not be located, but shell casings from a .40 caliber pistol were found at the entrance to the Rocky Hollow Recreational Center on South Central. The shots were apparently fired into the air.

At 3:34 a.m., a second report of a gunshot came in from the same area.

Officers who responded to that report learned that someone had fired a shot through the ceiling of a downstairs apartment at 143 South Central Avenue. The bullet entered through the floor of the upstairs apartment — lodging itself in the bedding of a boy who had been sleeping on the floor.

Smith said the boy was not injured because the bullet had lost its stamina by the time it reached him.

“He was extremely lucky,” Smith said.

Evidence was collected at the apartment, and Smith said he hopes forensic examinations will provide insight into who fired the shot.

During the investigation into the 3:34 a.m. shooting incident, police found evidence that led them to believe that Hill was the person responsible for firing the weapon at the entrance to Rocky Hollow earlier.

Hill admitted that he owned the pistol, but he denied firing it.

Hill had previously been convicted of financial fraud crimes in Maryland; therefore he was charged Thursday morning with possession of a handgun by a convicted felon. Smith said the crime is punishable by five to 10 years in the state penitentiary.

“There may be further charges,” Smith said.

“We’re looking into possible endangerment charges as a result of him firing a weapon in a residential area.”

Police believe Hill could be responsible for the shot that was fired in the apartment, but there are other suspects as well.

Smith said he does not yet know why the gun was discharged inside the apartment.

“There are several possibilities,” he said.

“It could have been reckless behavior or it could have possibly been accidental. Somebody in that apartment building knows exactly who and exactly why.”

Hill was lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center. An investigation into both incidents is continuing.

        

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