Jeannette man accused of firing gun, nearly striking girl sleeping next door

A bullet fired from a .40-caliber handgun held by a Jeannette man during an argument with his father late Thursday nearly struck a 15-year-old girl who was sleeping next door, according to police.

Andrew M. Klingensmith Jr., 33, was arraigned Friday on charges of simple assault, reckless endangering and illegally carrying a firearm without a license.

Jeannette police say Klingensmith was arguing with his father, Andrew Sr., about 10:30 p.m. Thursday at his father's home at 323 Lentz St. when he discharged the firearm.

Police Cpl. Mark Allen said in an affidavit of probable cause that the bullet went through the dining room wall and pierced the house next door, hitting a bed where a teenage girl was sleeping.

Police said the girl was not injured.

“A fired .40-caliber bullet was found on top of the bedsheets, next to her,” Allen wrote in the affidavit.

When police questioned the younger Klingensmith, who officers said was intoxicated, he denied intentionally firing the handgun.

“The defendant stated, ‘I didn't fire it. (Klingensmith Sr.) tackled me and the gun just went off,' ” Allen said in the affidavit.

He said Klingensmith's gun was equipped with two safeties “that have to be squeezed simultaneously in order for the weapon to be discharged.”

Allen noted in police reports that Klingensmith did not have a legal carry permit.

Klingensmith was ordered held in the county jail after failing to post $50,000 bail set by Jeannette District Judge Joseph DeMarchis. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 14 before DeMarchis.

Paul Peirce is a Tribune-Review staff writer. He can be reached at 724-850-2860 or ppeirce@tribweb.com.