CMU student arraigned for firing shots outside J.C. Penney on Wednesday
Troy junior Zachary David Barberi was arraigned in Isabella County Trial Court on Friday for firing a gun through the back window of a car last week on S. Mission Street.
Barberi, 21, was charged with four misdemeanors, which included careless discharge of a firearm with property damage greater than $50, a one year offense; reckless use of a firearm, 90 days; third-degree retail fraud, 93 days; and hunting/shooting from a safety zone, 90 days.
Barberi allegedly shot a long-barreled rifle with an attached scope through the back window of a J.C. Penney employee's car Wednesday morning in the parking lot behind the store, 2231 S. Mission St. It is estimated by police his shot came from a distance of about 175 feet.
"(The employee) pulled in to go to work, and her window broke out," said Jeff Thompson, Mount Pleasant Police public information officer, on Thursday. "At first she thought someone threw a rock."
The student allegedly stole ammunition from Dunham's Sporting Goods, 2129 S. Mission St. Barberi admitted buying a rifle from Dunham's and stealing ammunition valued at about $50. He then went to a parking lot near Union Square Apartments, connected to the J.C. Penney parking lot, and fired "toward the woods," he said.
He said he also shot at a block of ice before someone yelled at him, and at that point he left for his apartment.
There is no indication Barberi intended to shoot at the woman in the car.
It is estimated the shot cost the woman about $3,000 in property damage. She was not injured.
Barberi was ordered to remain in jail on $6,000 bond, court records show.
Police found and arrested Barberi after canvassing the area and receiving information about an unrelated harassment case relating to him. Police identified the suspect and were led to Dunham's before arresting him.
