Police: Bucks man says shooting was a mistake

A man accused of firing a bullet that broke a neighbor's window says he fired the gun because he knew of no other way to unload it, police said.

After the shooting on Friday afternoon in Middletown, Bucks County, George Byrd IV first denied knowledge of the shooting to a detective, then admitted he fired the weapon to clear the chamber because he was unfamiliar with guns, police said.

Byrd, 31, was charged with fire arms-related felonies as well as recklessly endangering another person, a misdemeanor, court records said.

Byrd is being held in the Bucks County jail unable to post $20,000 bond. Court records do not list an attorney. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8.

- Associated Press