Vernon Police: Man Tries To Shoot His Way Into Neighbor's Bathroom

VERNON, CT - A man who apparently needed to go fired a shot into a neighbor's bathroom, but instead went to the lockup early Sunday morning, police said.

At 2:53 a.m. Sunday, several Vernon officers were dispatched to the area near Unit 80 of Portico 1 Villa Apartments, 142 Vernon Ave., after receiving a report of a drunken male who allegedly shot a gun inside the dwelling, police said.

Upon arrival, officers located the accused, Shawn Cummins, 22, of Unit 80, standing outside the apartment, according to a news release.

Officers took Cummins into custody without incident, according to a news release.

Police described Cummins as "highly intoxicated."

Based on their investigation, officers learned that Cummins was drunk when he knocked on a neighbor’s door at about 2 a.m. to hang out, according to a news release. Cummins and his neighbors were acquaintances, police said.

While inside the apartment, Cummins became upset when one of the occupants wouldn’t get out of the bathroom, according to a news release.

Cummins then took out a 9mm handgun he had concealed in his waistband and fired one round into the closed bathroom door, just missing the person inside, police said.

The occupants of the apartment yelled for Cummins to get out of their apartment and Cummins left, police said.

While standing outside the apartment, Cummins fired a second 9mm round into the outside wall of the apartment complex, police said.

No one was injured in this incident, according to a news release.

Cummins was found to have a Connecticut pistol permit and his gun was registered, police said. According to a news release, Cummins’ 9mm handgun was seized as evidence. Police also seized Cummins’ pistol permit, according to a news release.

After obtaining a search warrant for Cummin's residence, police officers and detectives also seized a .45 caliber handgun and a 12 gauge shotgun.

Cummins was charged with:

• Unlawful discharge of a firearm.
• Illegally carrying a firearm while intoxicated.
• First-degree reckless endangerment.
• Threatening.
• Disorderly Conduct

Cummins was being held on a $20,000 cash bond on Sunday afternoon and is scheduled to be arraigned at Rockville Superior Court on <Monday, police said.

Photo credit: Cummins' booking mug shot supplied by Vernon police.