A Richlands man is accused of firing a shotgun into a residence on Elizabeth Street.

Matthew Bernard, 18, of Elizabeth Street in Richlands, was arrested on June 10 by the Richlands Police Department and charged with felony discharging a weapon in an occupied property and misdemeanor injury to real property.

“Mr. Bernard was allegedly cleaning his weapon at 1:30 in the morning,” RPD Chief Ron Lindig said. “It discharged and went into the residence across from where he lived.”

According to RPD Chief Ron Lindig, Bernard allegedly told police he was cleaning his weapon at 1:30 a.m. when it discharged into the residence across from his home. The buckshot and the resulting pellets caused 24 holes in the side of the home, and warrants state two people were home at the time.

“It’s probably by accident,” Lindig said. “But at 1:30 in the morning you shouldn’t be cleaning a weapon outside.”

Lindig said the matter is an ongoing investigation and that Bernard, an active-duty Marine at Camp Lejeune, moved to the area recently. He was not familiar with the neighbors into whose house he fired.

Bail was set at $5,000 and Bernard has since bonded out, according to court documents. He will next appear in court on July 9 and has indicated he will hire his own lawyer.

Reporter Maxim Tamarov can be reached at 910-219-8439 or mtamarov@jdnews.com. For digital subscription information, click here.