Two Arrested After Bullets Strike Neighboring Apartment

The incident took place last month at an apartment complex in Lawrenceburg.

Photo provided.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – Two men have been arrested after bullets struck a neighboring apartment.

On January 19, Lawrenceburg Police responded to Tuscany Bay Apartments when a tenant informed police that her 9-year-old child had been in the bathroom doing chores when she came out screaming after hearing a loud bang.

The complainant stated that she went to her closet and observed damage left by a bullet. Further investigation found the bullet tore through a closet and bedroom before entering the bathroom.

The investigation led to another apartment, where officers encountered Ahmed Elnaggar and Mahrous Habib. While at the scene, Elnaggar handed over an AR-15 rifle that was identified as a Smith and Wesson M&P 15 5.56 NATO rifle.

It was confirmed to have been recently fired due to gun residue powder inside the chamber area and nicks on the outside of the rifle consistent with shell casings being ejected from the rifle.

Further investigation of the complainant’s apartment confirmed the bullet hole and trajectory were consistent with a rifle fired from Elnagger and Habib’s apartment. A search warrant was reviewed and granted for any firearms and ammunition in the suspect’s apartment.

A green ammunition can containing loose brass .223 REM ammunition, a black scope, a black AR Smith & Wesson Riffle with an attached Vortex Scope, and a black Firefield gun case containing ammunition and a black scope were located within the apartment.

According to a news release, the following day, on January 20, Elnaggar contacted authorities and state that he was scared yesterday but did shoot his gun twice. Elnaggar added that he was cleaning his gun because he was going to the gun range soon when the gun went off twice. Elnaggar was not aiming the gun at anyone, and he did not intend for it to hit any building, but he did put the two casings in the garbage bag which was taken outside to the dumpster.

After review of body camera footage from January 19, footage depicts Habib carrying the bag of trash to the dumpster. Later, the same footage shows a Lawrenceburg officer go to the dumpster to retrieve and collect the same bag that Habib was carrying to the dumpster.

Elnagger has been charged with three counts of Criminal Recklessness (Level 5 Felony) and Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony). Habib is facing a charge of Obstruction of Justice (Level 6 Felony).