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HAZLETON – City police arrested a man they alleged fired several rounds from a firearm when neighbors inquired about loud noise coming from his apartment on North Wyoming Avenue late Wednesday night.
Giovanni V. Figueroa, 26, was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Halesey in Hanover Township on two counts each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct, and one count each of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and terroristic threats. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $40,000 bail.
Figueroa was arrested after police investigated gunfire at 557 N. Wyoming St. at about 11:20 p.m.
According to police:
Neighbors told police they heard loud footsteps and banging coming from Figueroa’s apartment. When someone knocked on a wall to Figueroa’s apartment, Figueroa opened a door and stood holding a firearm, police said.
Figueroa allegedly told neighbors “If you knock on my door again, I will shoot you,” according to police.
Neighbors continued to hear loud footsteps and banging from Figueroa’s apartment.
After someone knocked on Figueroa’s apartment wall a second time, Figueroa allegedly fired three rounds, police said.
Police said they recovered a bullet fragment and discovered a bullet hole in a neighbor’s apartment door and floor.
A .40-caliber Taurus firearm was allegedly found in Figueroa’s kitchen, police said.
Figueroa allegedly told police he discharged the firearm after neighbors kept knocking on his door.