A Waterbury man is accused of illegally firing an AR-15 from his front porch Friday morning, then lying to troopers about the incident, according to a press release from the Vermont State Police.
State police, along with responders from the Berlin Police Department and Waterbury Rescue, arrived at the home of Joseph Bishop in response to multiple calls regarding a shooting around 7:30 a.m.
The calls came from surrounding local schools and daycare centers inquiring about a potential active shooter. After investigating, state police deemed that the gunshot was an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing danger, the press release said.
Bishop initially “made several conflicting statements to investigating troopers about an unknown black man from out of state inside the residence,” according to state police. Bishop made claims of an altercation taking place at the residence and that the unidentified individual had “produced a concealed AR-15 and fired a round.”
After further investigation, state police found that Bishop’s claims were false, and he admitted to firing the AR-15 himself.
Bishop has been cited and faces charges of reckless endangerment and providing false information to law enforcement. He is set to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Barre on Nov. 8.
The investigation remains ongoing. State police are asking anyone with information to call the Berlin Barracks at 802-229-9191, or to anonymously report a tip at http://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
— Dom Minadeo