Gunman fires shots in Naugatuck apartment

NAUGATUCK, Conn. (WTNH) - A Naugatuck man is behind bars after police say he got drunk and started firing off shots at his apartment, nearly hitting one person.

Police said Absalom Rowe is the trigger man. When they went to arrest him Wednesday night he was highly intoxicated. In his apartment at 121 Aetna Street were shell casings and a loaded gun.

"I got on the phone and called 911," said Jay Smith. "It doesn't make any sense."

Police said one tenant was almost hit by a bullet. A total of seven bullets were fired.

"He really thought he was in a shooting range," Smith said. "Like he don't realize there are kids in this building. He is a typical drunk, all he does is walk and talk and scream, and talk to himself all day."

People who have lived in the apartment building with Rowe said they try to keep their distance from him.

"I have seen him before, a couple of times, but never knew him to talk to him," said Smith.

Rowe is being held on a $50,000 bond. He has been charged with reckless endangerment, 8 counts of unlawful discharge of a firearm and other charges.

The courts have order a psychological evaluation on Rowe as he makes his way through the legal system.