Chicago man charged with firing rifle in Aurora

A 39-year-old Chicago man has been charged with several firearms violations after Aurora police said he fired a rifle inside a home last weekend on the city's far east side.

Christopher M. Carlson of the 4500 block of North Kenneth Avenue faces charges of reckless discharge of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm with a revoked FOID card, authorities said. He is being held on $150,000 bail in DuPage County jail.

Police said Carlson fired the weapon around 12:30 a.m. April 3 inside a friend's home on the 1600 block of Edinburg Lane; Carlson said he was cleaning the gun when it accidentally discharged.

The bullet ended up striking the kitchen floor on the first floor of the home. No one was injured.

During their investigation, police said they discovered the rifle had been reported stolen in Zion.

At the time the gun went off, Carlson's friend, a 34-year-old woman, and her two children, a 6-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl, along with two other adults, a 41-year-old man and 31-year-old woman, were inside the home. Reports indicate the children were in a different bedroom at the time.

No one else was charged, but police say the investigation is continuing.