Man Charged With Intoxicated Endangerment After Shooting AR-15-Style Rifle: Police

LOTHIAN, MD — A Lothian man faces four criminal charges, including intoxicated endangerment, after authorities said he fired an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle into a wooded area in his neighborhood.

Christopher Edward Jones, 34, is also charged with reckless endangerment, discharge of a firearm within 100 yards of a structure, and disorderly conduct, court records show.

Anne Arundel County Police were called about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday to the 100 block of Bobcat Court in Lothian for a report of a man shooting into a wooded area near residences. A witness saw Jones fire a round from a green, black, and gold rifle before walking into the woods, a police news release said.

Officers heard yelling behind a nearby residence and the sound of a firearm’s slide being racked. Jones was located at his residence, where he was detained by officers.

While checking the property, officers found a Diamondback Arms Model DB15 AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle on the rear deck, which was seized as evidence.

The department’s Aviation Unit helped search the surrounding wooded area for any victims or additional suspects, but found nothing.

Jones was arrested and charged without incident. Online court records show he was released on his own recognizance.