A father from California, accused of discharging a firearm at a vehicle carrying several teenagers whom he alleges were bullying his daughter, now faces a multitude of charges. This act has been deemed by prosecutors as a response that was both unreasonable and hazardous.
Reports from San Mateo indicate that the incident of gunfire took place early on a Sunday. The San Mateo Police Department released a statement saying officers were investigating a “shooting into an occupied vehicle stemming from alleged bullying and/or harassment.” Arrested on multiple charges was Craig Steven Miceli, 54, according to the department.
Prosecutors have stated that the suspect discharged two bullets from a handgun towards the vehicle down his street after his property had been vandalized with eggs by his daughter’s classmates.
“He said he was just trying to shoot at the tires, but one of those went into the passenger side of [the vehicle] where the three boys were located,” San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe stated on Wednesday. “Fortunately, they were not hit,” he added.
This development follows earlier reports that the same teenagers allegedly had spread canola oil on the steps of the man’s residence. The father is now faced with multiple felony charges, which include assault with a firearm and firing at an occupied motor vehicle.
“It’s because of that discharge of the firearm that brought it out of the arena of teenage pranks and into the criminal justice world,” Wagstaffe stated.
“It’s the response that’s the crime. You do not get to take a firearm out and point it at a car with human beings in it and fire,” the district attorney told the station.
The suspect also faces additional charges related to firearms after an illegal automatic rifle was discovered during a search of his home, according to Wagstaffe. Miceli has pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on Tuesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 9.
The San Mateo police reported that, while no physical injuries resulted from the incident, “the impact of bullying in this situation, and many other situations like it, will likely continue to significantly impact the involved parties for some time.” The department encouraged anyone experiencing bullying to reach out for support “to help prevent another potentially tragic event from occurring.”
In conclusion, Wagstaffe has expressed hope that the teenage boys involved have learned a valuable lesson. “One prays that they’ve got the sufficient brainpower to understand they were lucky — and luck doesn’t always happen,” he stated.
