SHAMOKIN - An intoxicated 42-year-old Shamokin man, who allegedly pointed a rifle at a 13-year-old boy and threatened to kill him while standing on his porch on Spurzheim Street on Sunday afternoon, has been charged with five criminal offenses including terroristic threats.
Timothy Steven McCarthy, of 509 E. Spurzheim St., was charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, recklessly endangering another person and public drunkenness relating to the disturbance that occurred at about 3:45 p.m. outside McCarthy's home.
Police said McCarthy was involved in an argument with his son's 13-year-old male friend before the defendant went inside his residence and retrieved an unloaded Winchester Model 70 .338-caliber rifle with a scope. Police reported McCarthy then raised the rifle to his shoulder and pointed it at the 13-year-old boy before stating, "I'll blow your (expletive) head off."
According to a criminal complaint, McCarthy's wife screamed at him to put the rifle away, which he agreed to do before fleeing the home on foot. While the disturbance was occurring, police said McCarthy's son called 911 to report the incident and subsequently provided police with a description of his father and what he was wearing.
Patrolman Shane Mowery located McCarthy at 3:53 p.m. walking in the 400 block of North Franklin Street and he was taken into custody by police without incident. Patrolman Mark Costa escorted McCarthy on foot to the city police station, which is located in the 500 block of North Franklin Street.
McCarthy was arraigned by video at 5:20 p.m. by on-call Magisterial District Judge Robert Bolton of Milton and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $55,000 cash bail.
McCarthy's wife gave police permission to seize the rifle, which was found unloaded. The defendant's wife told police her husband had been drinking alcohol all day and was extremely intoxicated.
McCarthy told police he raised the rifle at the juvenile because he was "sick of those (expletive) stealing" from him.