A Porter man is facing felony charges after allegedly firing gunshots near a residential area early Saturday morning.

Around 2:30 a.m., Indiana State Police troopers parked near State Road 49 and U.S. 20 heard three shots and saw a muzzle flash coming from a blue 2018 Honda. Officers stopped the car and detained both occupants.

The passenger, 40-year-old Gary Ottomanelli of Porter, admitted to firing his 9mm handgun “just to shoot it.” The loaded weapon was recovered from the vehicle. A nearby resident also called 911 to report the gunfire.

Ottomanelli was arrested and booked into the Porter County Jail on preliminary charges of Criminal Recklessness with a Deadly Weapon, a Level 5 and Level 6 felony. The driver was released at the scene.