Cops: Lansdale Man Fires Gun at Party, Bullet Hits Neighbor's Door

Gordon Richard Arthur's neighbor across the street from his 300 block of York Avenue home was sitting on her couch, watching TV, at 10:40 p.m. May 3, when a 9mm bullet shattered the glass in her front storm door, police said.

She was sitting in the trajectory of the bullet, a mere six feet away, police said.

Now, Arthur, 57, who is licensed to carry a firearm, faces misdemeanor reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief charges for allegedly firing his Glock 9mm accidentally during a house party from his dining room, police said.

The bullet exited Arthur's bay window and continued right to his neighbor's home, according to an affidavit. Lansdale Police officers would eventually recover a 9mm bullet from the front porch of the home, found among a bunch of shattered glass, police said.

Lansdale Police responded to the neighbor's home the evening of May 3, for the report of a loud bang that was heard outside, which was possibly a gunshot, according to the affidavit.

The neighbor told police the glass of her front door was shattered, although they were initially unaware of how it happened, police said.

When the neighbor heard the loud bang, she went upstairs to see if her husband knew what had happened, according to the complaint. However, he was sound asleep during the noise, police said.

The couple went downstairs together, and the husband opened the front door to see what had happened, police said. When he opened the door, glass from the storm door had shattered and fell onto the porch, police said.

Officers inspected the storm door and found a small dime-sized hole in the upper portion of the remaining glass of the storm door, according to the affidavit. 

Officers then spoke with several residents who heard the loud bang, but thought it was fireworks, police said.

Then, Arthur came out of his home, walked across the street and apologized to his neighbor, police said.

Arthur allegedly accidentally shot a 9mm round from his gun as he was putting it away, police said.

Officers smelled alcohol on Arthur's breath and body, police said, and saw that his eyes were red and glassy.

Police said Arthur allegedly admitted that he had been drinking with friends at a party at his house, and accidentally fired the gun from his dining room. He told police the gun was on his dining room table and it fired when he picked it up, police said.

Officers found a similar dime-sized hole in Arthur's bay window, police said, with glass splintered around it. According to the affidavit, the hole is consistent with the size of the 9mm round found across the street.

The distance from Arthur's bay window to his neighbor's front door is about 104 feet, police said.

Police took Arthur's weapon for evidence, police said. A spent 9mm shell was ejected from the Glock when an officer cleared the gun for safety, according to the affidavit.

Officers found that the pistol's magazine was loaded with 14 9mm rounds, police said. 

The gun, the magazine, the spent 9mm shell and the spent round were all entered into evidence, police said.

A check of the gun found that it was registered to Arthur and that he had a license to carry firearms in Pennsylvania, police said.

A preliminary breath test of Arthur found his BAC level to be .034 percent, according to the affidavit.

After being read his Miranda Rights, Arthur would not answer officers' questions and refused to make a statement about the incident, police said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 15 before District Judge Harold Borek of Lansdale. Arthur was issued a summons for the offenses, according to court records. Police filed charges against Arthur on May 22.

Arthur's only other offense in Pennsylvania is a March 2012 traffic citation for speeding in Lower Merion, to which he pleaded guilty, according to court records.