Hampton woman released after allegedly firing gun at ex-boyfriend's apartment

HAMPTON — A woman charged with firing a 9-millimeter handgun round through the apartment door of her former boyfriend was released without bail on personal recognizance.

Erin McCarthy, 38, of Hampton, was arraigned Monday, July 22, in Hampton District Court. She stands accused of multiple felonies for allegedly firing the gun inside an apartment building, sending a bullet through the door and into the kitchen of her former boyfriend on the morning of July 19. The incident took place at the Olde English Apartments in Hampton, where she and the victim live in separate units.

McCarthy faces two counts of criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, one against her former boyfriend and the other against his current girlfriend, who was there at the time of the alleged incident. She is also charged with criminal reckless conduct for firing a round from a handgun through a door where occupants were within.

Since the victim was her former boyfriend, a count of domestic violence criminal threatening against a person with a dangerous weapon was also charged.

All charges are Class B felonies with sentences ranging from 3½ to 7 years each in state prison if convicted. McCarthy entered no plea to any charges during her arraignment.

The bail order issued by judicial referee the Hon. David G. LeFrancois released McCarthy back into the community on her own recognizance. The bail order carried stipulations, including she remains on good behavior, appear at all future court hearings, not possess any type of weapon or ammunition, and refrain from any use of alcohol or controlled substances while on bail.

McCarthy must reside elsewhere, according to LeFrancois’ order, and may not return to her apartment at the Olde English Apartments other than to retrieve personal items. She must also stay away from and have no contact with the victims in the case.

LeFrancois’ bail order requires that within 48 hours of her release, McCarthy must make contact with her mental health care providers and attend sessions to address her “mental health issues.” McCarthy must submit proof of her compliance with these requirements to the state, according to LaFrancois’ order.

It was not immediately known if McCarthy has an attorney.

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Hampton police affidavit reveals new details in shooting

McCarthy’s interaction with Hampton police began in the early hours of July 19, when officers responded to a complaint from the alleged victim that McCarthy was banging on the door of his apartment unit. Police gave McCarthy a warning at the time, advising her if she continued that behavior she would face a charge of disorderly conduct.

However, according to the police affidavit written by Hampton police Sgt. Stephen Champey, shortly after 7:40 a.m. on July 19, another call was received from the alleged victim, reporting McCarthy went to his apartment “and shot a round through the front door of the unit.”

Responding to the call, according to the affidavit, Champey found a hole in the east side door of the victim’s apartment consistent with a bullet hole. He also found the rip in the kitchen linoleum and “a spent projectile on the floor,” that appeared to be a 9 mm round.

According to the affidavit, the victims did not see McCarthy fire the shot, but told Champey “he had no issues with anyone else in the building.”

According to Hampton’s press release on the incident, while some responding officers evacuated all the residents of the apartment building, others attempted to talk McCarthy into leaving the apartment, which she initially refused to do.

“Officer John Wood was on the scene and had covered the east side apartment door (of McCarthy’s unit),” Champey wrote in the affidavit. “He observed a female exit the unit holding a firearm in her left hand.”

Ordered to drop the gun, McCarthy complied and was detained, according to the affidavit. Champey wrote the gun seized was a black, 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.

“Erin was later read her Miranda rights and confessed to shooting the round through the apartment door, stating that it was just a warning shot,” Champey wrote. “Erin further stated that she did not know if anyone was home or if anyone was injured.”

McCarthy was held in preventative detention after her arrest and until she appeared for her arraignment Monday morning.

According to Hampton Police Chief Alex Reno, although no one was harmed, with a firearm involved, the incident could have had dire results. Reno praised the handling of the incident by all the officers who responded.

Champey is the day-shift sergeant for the department, Reno said, with 12 years of experience as a detective sergeant and training as a negotiator with the Seacoast Emergency Response Team.

Evacuating the tenants of the apartment building to ensure their safety was a critical part of the department’s response to the Friday morning incident, Reno said.

“Under extreme circumstances, officers did a great job prioritizing life above all else in every aspect there was,” Reno said.

McCarthy is scheduled to appear in Hampton District Court on Aug. 13 for a probable cause hearing.

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