Washington Twp., NJ, cops: ‘Practicing’ hunter hit shopping center that houses daycare Edison man charged after slugs struck Long Valley Village shopping plaza
November 30, 2010
WASHINGTON TWP., NJ – An Edison man was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct Friday afternoon after several rounds fired from his shotgun during target practice hit the rear of a populated shopping complex, police said.
David Iacobone, 37, was charged with criminal mischief, creating a risk of widespread injury, and disorderly conduct after police responded to Long Valley Village on East Mill Road shortly after noon for reports of gunshots behind the building, said Lt. Art Adams, spokesman for the Washington Township Police Department.
Iacobone was using a shotgun and shooting rifled slugs – weighing about one ounce each – from a tree stand across the field, behind Long Valley Village.
The rifled slugs are about half an inch long, oval-shaped and made of lead, Adams said.
Iacobone was about 230 yards from the complex, which also contains a day care center, and was aiming at a target between his tree stand and the business complex, Adams said.
There were no injuries, however, Iacobone struck the building at least four times and broke a window. Also, a Long Valley police officer responding to the scene was “almost struck” by a slug, Adams said. According to Adams, target shooting does not carry the same regulations and restrictions as hunting, “as long as you’re shooting in a safe manner,” he said.
Deer season for shotgun hunters opens Dec. 6.
The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife assisted with the investigation .
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