A Bowling Green man was charged with discharging a firearm in city limits and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle on Friday around 11:40 p.m.
Police first received a noise complaint about arguing people in the 800 block of Fourth Street. While enroute, dispatch advised of reported gunshots near the 600 block of Fourth Street.
An officer was flagged down by the caller, who said he heard arguing outside his apartment, then saw a man fire a gun near Elm and Fourth streets. The caller told police he moved his family to a safe location inside the apartment, away from windows, in case the suspect continued shooting.
An officer approached a vehicle parked in the area. A passenger, Richard Torres III, 21, reportedly denied having a weapon when asked by police. But when an officer patted him down, a handgun was found in Torres’ pocket.
The firearm was found to have an eight-round magazine. There was one round in the chamber and six rounds in the magazine. An officer located a spent 9mm Luger shell casing on the sidewalk in the 600 block of Fourth Street.
Torres reportedly admitted to firing one gunshot into the air, and said he knew it was a mistake immediately after doing it. He was released after bond was posted.
