PEPPERELL — A Pepperell man shot himself in the leg early Saturday morning, police said, and now faces gun and drug charges.

Police responded to a call of a shooting on Groton Street about 3 a.m., where they discovered 19-year-old Francis Banister had suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg, according to a press release from the Pepperell Police Department.

Banister allegedly told police that he suffered the wound while walking down Leighton Street. He alleged that a vehicle drove by him and one of its occupants opened fire, the release states.

The 19-year-old was transported to an area hospital, while police explored his statements.

During the investigation, police responded to a call for assistance at an apartment complex on Leighton Street. A preliminary investigation determined that a bullet had been shot through the resident’s bathroom wall from a neighboring apartment.

Further investigation allegedly established that the bullet had come from a gun mishandled by Banister who was next door visiting a friend, according to the release.

Police then executed a search warrant for Banister’s home. There they uncovered a large-capacity magazine, multiple rounds of ammunition and drugs, according to the release.

Banister turned himself in to police. He is charged with possession of a firearm without a Firearms Identification Card, possession of ammunition without an FID card, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, violation of a firearm surrender order, possession of a large-capacity feeding device, wanton destruction of property over $250, possession of over one ounce of marijuana by a person under age 21, two counts of possession of a Class B drug, three counts of possession of a Class E drug, misleading a police officer and providing a false crime report.

Banister is being held without bail pending his arraignment in Ayer District Court on Monday.

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