Springdale man accused of firing shots along riverbank that nearly hit passing boater

Springdale police arrested a man Saturday after a boater told them he heard a volley of gunshots ring out from along the riverbank before a bullet whizzed past him.

Michael Bonomo, 31, of the 900 block of Lincoln Avenue was charged with felony counts of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure and carrying a firearm without a license. He also faces counts of reckless endangerment, public drunkenness and scattering rubbish in connection with the incident.

Bonomo was released on a nonmonetary bond and ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge David Sosovicka, court records show.

Police wrote in a criminal complaint that officers were dispatched to the 100 block of Butler Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. for a report of multiple shots being fired near the banks of the Allegheny River.

As officers combed the shoreline, a 911 dispatcher told police that the man who called could see them along the banks and that the person they were looking for was about 100 yards upriver, the complaint said.

Officers found Bonomo hiding in the weeds and took him into custody, police said.

Police said Bonomo had earplugs dangling from around his neck and directed them to his bag when they asked him about the firearm.

They found a .380-caliber pistol in his drawstring bag that was still warm from being fired along with two partially used boxes of ammunition, police said.

Spent shell casings were found on the ground nearby, police said, and Bonomo had an empty magazine in his pocket.

Bonomo told police he was firing the gun into the river, but he was trying to be careful, the complaint said.

Police said Bonomo is the legal owner of the gun, but he does not have a permit to carry the weapon in public.

Police issued a citation to Bonomo for scattering rubbish after he told them he tossed the can of beer he was drinking into the river, the complaint said.