Westmoreland County

Vandergrift woman accused of firing AR-15 after bullet ends up in child’s playroom next door

VANDERGRIFT, Pa. — A Vandergrift woman is facing charges after an incident late Sunday night, when she is accused of firing a gun inside her home, unintentionally sending the bullet into the home next door.

According to Vandergrift police, Wendy Caldwell was arguing with her husband in their home on Franklin Avenue.

Police paperwork states she left the room, grabbed an AR-15 rifle, pointed the gun at her husband, and it “went off.”

“That’s absolutely ridiculous to hear something like that,” said James Gearhart, who lives nearby.

The bullet went through the frame of an upstairs window of the Caldwell’s house and into the home next door.

The criminal complaint states the bullet went into the neighbors’ upstairs children’s playroom, hitting a mirror and a child’s chair.

No one was hurt, according to police.

“Thank God,” said Gearhart. “It’d break my heart if they were.”

The couple next door told police they were in a different room upstairs with the child when the shot rang out.

“I’d be scared,” said Gearhart. “I definitely would be, if it was my child. I wouldn’t know what to think. Scary.”

According to arresting documents, Caldwell was drunk when police arrived and had been arguing with her husband after he asked for a divorce.

She was taken to the Westmoreland County Prison but has since been released on bond.

“Thank God no one was hurt. That’s the most important thing,” Caldwell’s husband said to 11 News.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW