Appleton Police Department patch. (PHOTO: Courtesy of Fox 11 WLUK)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — An Appleton resident is facing charges after a bullet penetrated their neighbor’s wall in a firearm mishap.
It happened Sunday morning when officers were dispatched to a residence after the residents reported a bullet was fired into their home.
Officers quickly determined the round had been fired from an adjoining residence and had penetrated a shared interior wall.
The investigation revealed that an individual in the neighboring unit had been demonstrating basic firearm handling to two others in preparation for a planned trip to a shooting range. While conducting this instruction, and mistakenly believing the firearm had been unloaded, one of the individuals pointed the gun toward an interior wall and discharged a live round.
Four people, including a young child and an infant, were inside the affected residence when the bullet passed through. Thankfully, no one was struck or injured.
The individuals in the unit from which the round was fired made no attempt to check on the safety or well-being of their neighbors following the incident.
Based on the findings of the investigation, the person responsible for the negligent discharge is being referred to the Outagamie County District Attorney’s Office for one count of Endangering Safety by Use of a Dangerous Weapon.
Police say this incident serves as an important reminder that unsafe weapon handling can have life-altering consequences. Firearms must be treated with utmost respect at all times, whether at home, at a range, or during instruction. Anyone choosing to possess or handle a firearm must remain vigilant and consistently model responsible practices. The Appleton Police Department encourages all gun owners and anyone handling a firearm to follow the core rules of firearm safety:
- Treat every firearm as if it is loaded. Never assume a gun is unloaded. Always personally verify, and whenever possible, have a second person visually and physically confirm the firearm is clear.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. Good trigger discipline prevents unintentional discharges.
- Never point a firearm at anything you are not willing to destroy. Always maintain control of the muzzle and be aware of where it is directed.
- Be certain of your target and what lies beyond it. Bullets can penetrate walls, objects, and other barriers, causing unintended harm.
Comments