(Red Oak, Iowa [8-a.m. News]) – Police in Red Oak have arrested a man for discharging a firearm within the city limits. According to Police Chief Justin Rhamy, 46-year-old Anthony Dean Morris, of Red Oak, faces charges that include Reckless Use of a Firearm – a Simple Misdemeanor, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm – A Class-D Felony offense.

His arrest followed a 9-1-1 call at around 4:50-a.m. today (Friday) to the Montgomery County Communications Center. The caller reported hearing shots-fired in the 1800 block of E. Summit Street, at the Woodlands Apartments in Red Oak. Officers arrived on the scene and found three spent .9mm shell casings on the ground outside the apartment complex. Upon further investigation, Officers arrested Anthony Morris and transported him to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on the aforementioned charges.

Red Oak Police say Morris and a friend were “messing around” with his Hawg .9mm handgun, and chambered a round into the barrel of the weapon. Morris, they said, wanted to unload the firearm, but was apparently unfamiliar with removing the handgun magazine and using the slide release to eject the chambered round out of the barrel. He then “Made the unwise decision” to take the gun outside of the apartment complex and fire the weapon into the air until it was empty (three rounds).

Morris then returned to his apartment with the empty handgun. Officers later encountered Morris and the weapon, which was seized by Police.