Reading Eagle
Reading police have arrested a man they said fired a handgun at two brothers during an argument last week and endangered three children in the line of fire.
Antonio R. Laurencio, 55, whose last known address is in the 300 block of Laurel Ridge Road, South Heidelberg Township, was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $1 million bail after arraignment late Monday before District Judge Wally Scott in Reading Central Court.
Details of the arrest Monday were unavailable.
Laurencio was charged with five counts of reckless endangerment and aggravated assault, and related charges after the incident last Wednesday about 11 a.m. at Greenwich and Birch streets.
According to investigators:
Laurencio approached the brothers, ages 28 and 30, while they were repairing the engine of a car parked on the street and argued with them about money. Further details about the argument were unavailable.
Police withheld the names of the brothers.
Laurencio ran to the rear of a residence in the 1200 block of Greenwich Street and entered through the back door.
He came out seconds later with a handgun and shot at one of the brothers, who ran into the 600 block of Birch Street and ducked behind a parked car.
The other brother had gone onto a porch and was sitting with his three grandchildren: two 3-year-olds and a 6-year-old.
He grabbed the children when he saw Laurencio pointing the gun at his brother.
Laurencio fired several shots toward the brother while the children were in the line of fire.
No one was hit.
The bullets shattered the rear passenger window of the car that the one brother was using for cover.
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