Three charged after gun accidentally goes off

Groton – A noise disturbance Tuesday night ended with the accidental discharge of a gun and the arrest of three suspects.

Groton City police charged Tyree Lawson, 22, of 39 East Haddam Road, Salem, with second-degree breach of peace, first-degree reckless endangerment and carrying a pistol or revolver without a permit. Clarence E. Maclin Jr., 21, of 17 Watson Road, Preston, was charged with interfering with an officer, while Lashonda M. Paige, of 25 Broad St. Ext., Apt. B3–16, Groton, was charged with disorderly conduct.

Police were called to the Groton Towers apartments around 10:30 p.m. for a noise disturbance. When police arrived, police said the three suspects ran down a hallway and to a wooded area in the back of the apartment complex. Lawson, police said, threw a handgun into the woods, which discharged when it hit the ground.

No one was hit by the bullet, but Officer Travis Winkelman suffered a minor ankle injury from a fall and was treated and released from Lawrence & Memorial Hospital.

Sgt. Scott Sanford praised Groton Town police for their assistance during the incident.