CALVERT COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)—A retired Baltimore firefighter is under arrest, charged with shooting a teenager with a shotgun.

Jessica Kartalija reports.

Police say the man was trying to scare away a group of skateboarders when things got ugly.

Just around dinner time, neighbors report hearing noises outside. A group of teenagers was shouting profanity while skateboarding in the parking lot.

“He’s not being responsible when he is attacking your child,” said Ted Ewanchiw, of Calvert County.

Police say one neighbor in the Solomon’s Landing condos came outside to see what was going on, but things quickly turned violent.

“Apparently he approached them first and told them to leave, and then pepper sprayed one of the young men,” said Sheriff Mike Evans, Calvert County Sheriff’s Dept.

Charles Armiger, 66, was arrested for first- and second-degree assault, but not just for the pepper spray incident.

“If it’s something that’s been ongoing and you want your peace and quiet, and they’re not listening to him, I guess they pushed him too far,” Ewanchiw said.

Police found a 15-year-old on the sidewalk, shot in the leg, right above his knee. Armiger apparently confessed.

“Well, as soon as we heard gunshots, the sergeant heard the gunshots and he saw the suspect. He approached him with his gun. He surrendered his weapon to the police officer and said ‘I shot someone,’” Evans said.

Residents say the teens had been causing problems at the apartment complex for some time.

The skateboarder is expected to survive.

Armiger says he was trying to fire two warning shots.