Man charged with allegedly shooting at neighbors
A Redstone Township man is lodged in the Fayette County Prison after he allegedly pointed and fired an empty gun at his neighbors Wednesday afternoon.
State police said several alleged victims reported that Richard Charles Long, 36, pointed the gun at various neighbors and pulled the trigger.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Annabel Mosco, one of Long’s neighbors, Laurie Anne Costello, reported that Long was screaming at someone on the phone and later came outside where he was seen waving the gun around uncontrollably.
The gun was later identified as a black Mossberg hunting rifle with a scope, police said.
Three other alleged victims reported Long’s actions. They described Long as wearing glasses, blue jeans, a ball cap and no shirt.
Long allegedly told police that “he was having a bad day” and admitted to pointing the rifle at, and shooting blanks towards, the victims.
According to the affidavit, Long also told police “he was bored and did not know why he did it.”
Long was charged with four counts of aggravated assault, eight counts of simple assault, four counts of recklessly endangering another person and a single count of possession of a firearm prohibited.
Magisterial District Judge Mike Defino Jr. set Long’s bond at $75,000. He faces a preliminary hearing on March 16.