December 9, 2011
By Jason Schreiber, UnionLeader.com
EPPING — A local hunter was charged Thursday for allegedly firing a
handgun that sent a bullet flying through the walls of a house last
week.
Jordan Adams, 20, of Dearborn Road, faces charges of negligent
discharge, a Class B misdemeanor, and shooting across a public way, and
use of full metal jacket bullets while hunting, both violations.
Authorities said Adams was hunting with a friend in the area of Old
Hedding Road on Nov. 29, when one of the rounds fired from a handgun
shot across the road and into a house at 30 Old Hedding Road.
The bullet entered the front of the house, passed through a sitting
room next to a kitchen where homeowners Seth Roy and Caitlin O’Connor
were standing, and exited the rear of the house.
The incident occurred after Adams discovered a deer in a field area
across from Old Hedding Road and fired his first shot with a rifle, Fish
and Game Conservation Officer Chris McKee said. He hit the deer, but
when it started to take off, Adams walked closer to it and decided to
use a .40-caliber handgun to fire more rounds. McKee said Adams fired
four full metal jacket rounds, which are illegal to use for deer
hunting.
Investigators were able to track the round that hit the house. McKee
said it cut through pine tree branches and grazed a tree before going
across the road and into the house.
“The key is to make sure you identify the target and what’s beyond it
as well. He knew better than to shoot that way. I think he got deer
fever and everything went out the window,” McKee said Thursday.
The bullet left holes in the drywall and vinyl siding, but McKee said
Adams plans to take care of the repairs.
“He is in contact with the homeowners and is working out a way to
have it fixed,” McKee said.
Ironically, McKee said the house Adams hit is the same one that his
uncle helped build. The uncle still has siding left over to replace the
pieces that were damaged, McKee said.
McKee said Adams will likely face fines for the incident.
