A 45-year-old Hereford man was arrested Monday night after Sierra Vista police received multiple reports of gunshots, authorities said.
James Allen Hamblin was booked into the Cochise County jail in connection with charges of endangerment, discharging a firearm at a structure, unlawful discharge of a firearm, aggravated criminal damage, recklessly discharging a deadly weapon and prohibited possession of a firearm, said Cpl. Tim Wachtel, a Sierra Vista Police Department spokesman.
At about 5:45 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the area of Lenzner Avenue and Fry Boulevard, after receiving multiple calls regarding gunshots. Witnesses told 911 dispatchers that a white man wearing a white shirt and camouflage pants was carrying a gun and walking towards the Motel 6 on Fry Boulevard, Wachtel said.
Additional witnesses told police that the man had been seen shooting a gun down side streets off Lenzner Avenue.
Officers located a man at Motel 6 matching the witnesses' descriptions, and also found a Glock handgun at the scene. The suspect was identified as Hamblin, who was taken into custody without incident, Wachtel said.
Investigators found a bullet hole in the wall of the Sierra Lutheran Church, located on Lenzner Avenue, along with several spent shell casings. The church and daycare center next door were both occupied during the shooting, but no injuries were reported, Wachtel said.
