A Mahanoy Plane man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison for firing a rifle and hitting a home on Sunday.
According to court documents filed by the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville, on Sunday, around 12:20pm, Troopers received a call for a report of shots fired in the area of 2406 Railroad Street in Mahanoy Plane, Gilberton.
When Troopers arrived, they secured the area and found a home that had been struck with at least 3 rounds. At the time of the incident, 6 people were inside the home that was struck, including 2 children that were 5 years old and younger.
Upon interviewing the victims, they learned the family had heard gunshots and went outside and found 2 males standing at a nearby railroad bed, one of them holding a rifle. The victim began to yell at the two males and heard additional shots travelling past him.
The two males then fled the area and entered a blue Dodge Dart and fled.
While Troopers were questioning the victims, the fleeing vehicle was seen traveling east on Route 54.
The troopers on scene located the vehicle on the east side of Gilberton near the intersection of West Main Street and Hickey Street.
The occupants of the vehicle were identified as 25-year-old, Patrick Quinn, of Mahanoy Plane, and Ethan Houtz. Both were detained.
Upon questioning Quinn, he admitted to being in the area with .22 caliber rifle, and that he was target shooting in a wooded area across from the victim's home. He admitted to fleeing and hiding the firearm along the road nearby.
Upon questioning Houtz, he admitted that Quinn was target shooting into a wooded area when for an unknown reason turned and began firing at the home across the street. He also admitted to fleeing and hiding the firearm along the road.
Houtz was transported by State Police to the area of Vulcan Hill Road and Vulcan Road in Mahanoy Township where the .22 caliber was buried beneath some leaves along the road.
State Police say based on what they learned, Quinn was intentionally and recklessly firing at least 3 rounds towards the occupied home.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Nicholas Reese charged Quinn with aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.
Quinn was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli on Sunday afternoon on the above charges and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $150,000 straight cash bail.
Unless bail is posted, Quinn will remained locked up awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled before Judge Tarantelli on February 28th, 2024.