Man Charged With Firing Gun At Wilmington Home: Police

WILMINGTON, MA — A man is accused of firing his gun at a Wilmington home, according to police. Mark Bickford, 57, is facing multiple charges in the Oct. 5 crime.

Police said a resident reported that they had discovered damage upon returning home. The residents of the Chestnut Street home weren't present when the house was struck.

Wilmington police launched an investigation and gathered home security camera footage from residents in the area. The investigation led to the identification of a suspect vehicle and found that Bickford had fired a single round from a handgun into the home while driving on Chestnut Street.

Police said that the incident was "entirely random, with no specific target in mind."

A warrant was issued for Bickford's arrest. He was taken into custody Nov. 1 on the following charges: discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling or building, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and operating with a suspended driver's license.

At his arraignment, Bickford was ordered to be held in custody.

“I want our residents to know that Mark Bickford will be held accountable for his reckless actions," Police Chief Joseph Desmond said in a statement. "But I also want to reassure you that everything in this investigation showed that Mark Bickford was not targeting any individual or residence. I want our residents to feel safe in their homes. This isolated incident does not pose a threat to their safety or well-being.”

Desmond said the department's detectives and patrol officers did "an outstanding job" identifying and catching Bickford.

"The public doesn’t always see it, but this is the kind of work they do each and every day for the citizens of our community,” he said.