Shots fired near homes leads to arrests

BRANT, N.Y. (WIVB) - Authorities are looking into whether or not New York’s SAFE Act was violated during the Sunday target shooting spree in the Village of Farnham.

Six people were arrested after they allegedly fired a high powered rifle, nearly striking a young woman in the head when bullets flew through the doors and walls of her home and spooking horses that had to be physically restrained.

MORE | The shooting interrupted a birthday party and children took cover in a shed

The woman who was nearly struck said, "I heard the bullet whiz by my head. It came in, hit our door and flew onto our floor."

Lt. Mark Slawek says 300 or 400 bullets were fired in about a five to 10 minute period, creating what witnesses called a chaotic scene. The lieutenant said the guns used were 22 caliber rifles, handguns, shotguns, an AK 47, and a Remington 300 which is used for long-distance firing for hunting elk or deer, or even bigger animals.

The shots were fired from woods located near a residential area.

"The entire neighborhood was impacted by it. The people that lived next door or within several houses of the property, they dove for cover. They were definitely afraid for their life, for their children's life," said Lt. Slawek.

Officers entered the woods with their guns drawn, still hearing shots being fired. It turns out that several members of the same family were firing weapons at beer cans and other targets.

Lt. Slawek said, "They were shaking up the beer cans and shooting them so they explode. They were shooting at clay targets, and it's not a good thing to do where they were."

In all, six people were facing arraignment Friday in Town of Brant Court. John Bingel, 54; June Stresing, 45; Joseph Vail, 45; Jamie Vain, 25; Mark Hartman, 59; and Jacob Hartman, 33 are all charged with  first degree reckless endangerment, felony criminal mischief and reckless endangerment of property.