Aylmer teens facing firearms charges after rifle fired into window of home

Three teenage boys are facing several firearms-related charges after Aylmer police say a rifle was fired at a home earlier this week.

Officers were called to a home around 3 p.m. Tuesday, after a resident reported over the non-emergency line that an unknown projectile had struck their window.

Police say they quickly confirmed that it had been a bullet, which went through the window and lodged in a door inside the residence, which was occupied at the time.

Further investigation led police to a nearby home, where three youths were taken in to custody, and .22 calibre rifle was seized, officials said.

"The street, being as small as it is, would actually serve to potentially identify the accused in this matter ... That's the reason for not releasing the name of the street," said Aylmer Police Chief Kyle Johnstone.

Two 14-year-old boys and a 16-year-old boy face one count each of unauthorized possession of a firearm and careless use of a firearm. Their identities cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

One of the 14-year-olds was also charged with discharging a firearm into or at a place in a reckless manner.

Police said one of the 14-year-olds was released on an undertaking with conditions, while the other two were remanded into custody following a bail hearing.

"A 14-year-old and (the) 16-year-old were both at large on recognizance of their own release at the time of this offence. One pertained to a violent matter, and the other one pertained to a property crime matter," Johnstone said.

He added that all three have had a, "fair amount of police involvement with us and other police services over the last little while."

"Anytime that there's a repeated pattern of behaviours with youth, and particularly when it escalates to a point involving a firearm, it's certainly concerning in any community," he said.

Police, in partnership with the Chief Firearms Office, are also looking into how the three had access to a .22 calibre rifle to begin with, he said.