PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Shooting into the air may have scared away the two men hanging around his car.
But it also put Leonardo Salazar in handcuffs.
Called about gunfire outside 131 Mitchell St. around 2:40 a.m. Monday, police officers soon learned about the 42-year-old man's attempt at crime prevention.
Salazar told the police that he saw two men trying to break into his vehicle, according to a police report. When they saw him and didn't leave, Salazar said, he felt threatened, the report said.
So, he shot into the air a few times until the men took off, the report said.
Salazar told police they could find his Glock 19 handgun under his mattress, along with a magazine with 9 millimeter cartridges, according to a police report. Salazar also showed police his "Blue Card" to buy a handgun, which was issued to him on June 18.
Maj. David Lapatin said Salazar was charged with firing in a compact area.