Police: Man, woman charged with shooting gun 37 times in Sebastian park at night

SEBASTIAN — Police officers arrested a man and woman on a warrant charging them each with firing a gun in public after police found them in a park with a handgun and roughly 40 shell casings of .9mm ammunition.

Scott Richards, 32, of Brooksville in Hernando County, and Nicole Anderson, 31, of Sebastian, each were charged with discharging a firearm in public and use of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol.

Anderson was arrested Wednesday and Richards Oct. 1 after law enforcement obtained warrants from the State Attorney's Office following the Sept. 26 incident.

Sebastian police stated in affidavits that officers were sent to Stormwater Park, 297 Englar Drive, around 11:30 p.m. after receiving multiple calls from people reporting gunfire.

An officer noted he saw a parked car with two people inside, who attempted to back away as he approached to knock on the driver side window.

Cpl. Pete Miller stated both Anderson and Richards denied hearing gunfire, or firing weapons, but changed their accounts after he asked Richards about a black gun holster sitting on his lap.

Richards initially told police he was the one firing the weapon.

But in Anderson's written statement, she said: "We went to shoot a gun to get me comfortable with a concealed weapon license tomorrow."

She told police they walked into the park and fired three rounds in the air, but officers reported finding 37 spent rounds and three live rounds in the southwest corner of the parking lot next to their vehicle, according to the affidavit.

Richards was released from Indian River County Jail the same day as his arrest on $3,000 bail; Anderson was released on $1,000 bail Wednesday.

Both are scheduled for November arraignments in court.

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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.

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