Towamencin woman gets probation for accidentally discharging firearm into neighbor’s home

A Towamencin woman who accidentally discharged a firearm into her neighbor’s home has been sentenced to probation as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Sherry Welsh, 55, was charged in November 2023 with one felony count of discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, along with two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. As part of the plea agreement, Welsh pleaded down to four summary counts of disorderly conduct – hazardous or physical offense, and was subsequently sentenced to one year of probation.

Towamencin Police were called to the 1600 block of Windsor Court at 4:44 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2023 for a report of a “suspicious circumstance.” Police said they spoke with the homeowner, who had observed a bullet lying in their second-floor bedroom with a bullet hole in the wall of the bedroom as well as a bullet hole in the ceiling of the bedroom.

Investigators determined the bullet had traveled from the first floor of a neighboring home into the second floor of the victim’s home, according to charging documents.

Police said they contacted the neighbors, one of whom was identified as Welsh, who said she was familiarizing herself with a Glock 9mm Model 17 on Oct. 30, 2023 when it accidentally discharged. Welsh said the magazine had been removed from the handgun prior to her holding it, and she was unaware that a round was still in the chamber, according to police.

Welsh also told police she did not think the bullet had penetrated outside of her home, police said. She was arrested and arraigned on Nov. 5, 2023.