A 48-year-old Alexandria man was charged last month with illegally discharging a firearm in his back yard in the Potomac West neighborhood of Alexandria.
The incident allegedly occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at around 9:45 p.m. in the 200 block of Aspen Street, according to a recently released search warrant affidavit.
Police were alerted of the incident when an Alexandria City Public Schools student told their school resource officer that their father was making suicidal statements and “discharged a firearm” in their home, according to the search warrant affidavit.
Police investigated the claim, and found that the suspect allegedly got into a drunken argument with a family member, made suicidal statements and then fired his shotgun into the ground in his back yard, according to the search warrant affidavit.
The man was charged with illegal discharge of a firearm, which is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison and/or up to a $2,500 fine. He goes to court on January 8.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 911 or the Department of Human Services’ emergency services line at 703-746-3401. CrisisLink also has a 24-hour crisis hotline at 703-527-4077 or 800-SUICIDE, or text 703-940-0888.
