BUTLER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— A Luzerne County man is being charged after he allegedly fired at and threatened to light an air mattress on fire of people he was subletting to.
Butler Township Police charged 55-year-old William Everett, from Drums, following a shooting/fire incident at his residence in Beech Mountain Lakes early Friday morning.
According to a release from the Butler Township Police Department, police responded to an incident on Randy Ridge Court in the Beech Mountain Lakes section around 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.
Officials state that it stemmed from an argument with Everett and a male and female resident he was subletting the room to.
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During the argument, officials state that Everett became angry and allegedly pointed a long-barreled firearm at one of the victims before firing a round directly behind them into the couch and stating “I’ll tell the police it is self-defense”.
Authorities say shortly after Everett was going down the stairs and started lighting an aerosol object "like a flame thrower", according to a victim, while also threatening to light their air mattress on fire.
When on-scene, officers saw Everett exiting the residence and took him into custody.
Police then executed a search warrant, collected evidence, and alleged that Everett rigged the doors where the "tenants" stayed were locked with a deadbolt only accessible with a key which they did not have.
The windows were also allegedly screwed shut with most of them being barricaded with lumber and wire.
Everett was charged with the discharge of a weapon in an occupied structure, four counts of terroristic threats, and two counts of unlawful restraint among other charges.
Everett was already out on bail from separate arrests earlier this year for aggravated assault and firearms charges and a hearing is set for later this month.
Butler Township Police were assisted by the Pennsylvania State Police, Conyngham and Freeland Borough Police, Valley Regional EMS, and Butler Township Code Enforcement.
