BELINGTON, W.Va. Two suspects in Barbour County are out on bail after each was charged with several counts of wanton endangerment with a firearm following a domestic incident.
Police said when a verbal altercation developed between James Armstrong, of Belington, and a woman, he produced a shotgun and pointed at her and her children.
Next, Armstrong allegedly put a round in the chamber and cocked the shotgun.
The woman then called Edwin Goddard, who arrived with a pistol and allegedly put it on Armstrong’s head.
The police confiscated the shotgun and pistol then questioned Goddard and Armstrong about the incident.
Police said Armstrong appeared to be intoxicated and provided a breath sample that was nearly twice the legal limit at.156 BAC.
The details are not clear, but when investigators swabbed Goddard’s hand for gunshot residue, he admitted to firing his weapon into the ground because he told police “it was illegal to fire a weapon into the air.”
Reports indicate Goddard is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior criminal charge.
Officials also confiscated four firearms from Goddard’s home during the investigation.
Armstrong and Goddard each face several counts of wanton endangerment involving a firearm.