18-year-old Highland Mills man charged with firing multiple rounds from shotgun in Pine Bush neighborhood

The incident unfolded on Drexel Drive around 7 p.m. on Tuesday night.

Blaise Gomez

Nov 27, 2024, 10:25 PM

Updated 12 days ago

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Crawford police have arrested an 18-year-old from Highland Mills after he allegedly opened fire Tuesday night in a residential neighborhood in Pine Bush.
The incident unfolded on Drexel Drive around 7 p.m. One of the shots can be heard on surveillance video that was given exclusively to News 12 by a neighbor who called police.
“It was really loud. It was close. That’s why I went outside,” says the neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous. “If it was just one gunshot, I would’ve never even went outside, but when they opened up, that’s a lot of gunshots.”
Crawford police say no one was hurt during the incident and Nicholas Imperati was arrested for allegedly firing a shotgun seven times outside of a residence.
Authorities say Imperati and two other men at the house lied to them about what happened and that the group falsely claimed someone drove up trying to sell them the weapon, opened fire and took off.
The gun was found in Imperati’s pickup truck with a shot gun casing nearby, according to police.
“They didn’t turn the lights on. There’s power in that house. They were walking around with flashlights,” says the neighbor.
Neighbors tell News 12 people living at the house recently moved out and police say the men had permission to clear out belongings. They haven’t said why the shotgun was fired or if the shooter had it legally.
Imperati is charged with reckless endangerment and illegally discharging a firearm. He was issued an appearance ticket to return to Town of Crawford Court next month.
Crawford police say no property was damaged during the shooting and that it remains under investigation.