FeedsLivonia man charged in ‘accidental’ shooting
A 25-year-old Livonia man was charged Friday in an accidental shooting that seriously injured his friend.
Lance Andrew Celusta, a security guard with the Archdiocese of Detroit, was charged following the incident that took place on the former Northville Psychiatric Hospital site on July 13. He faces nine years in prison and fines up to $8,000, altogether.
The police and fire departments responded to the medical emergency at about 4 a.m. on July 13, according to Lt. Greg Rhodes of the township police department. Officers found a 20-year old Livonia man with a wound on his leg.
“It might not normally be serious, but (the bullet) hit an artery,” said Township Manager Chip Snider, who also serves as public safety director.
Rhodes said the incident started when a group of four individuals, all from Livonia, parked at the nearby Northridge Condominiums with the intention to enter the grounds of the former Northville State Psychiatric Hospital off Seven Mile Road.
The suspect was the driver of the two-door Chevy Cavalier and the victim, a 20-year-old Livonia resident, was seated directly behind him.
“He had to push the seat forward to get out of the car,” Rhodes said.
Celusta was allegedly playing around with the gun at the time and it went off, striking the victim in the calf.
Police believe all were intoxicated at the time.
“(He) had a valid Concealed Weapons Permit and the weapon was properly registered,” Rhodes said.
He still faces charges because it’s illegal to be in possession of a firearm while intoxicated.
Police believe the suspect knew that, too, because when asked for his cell phone to dial 911, he refused, leaving his companions to flag down help from the roadway.
He also tried to conceal it from police.
“We had to sober them up before we could interview them,” Snider said.
The victim is still recovering from the wound, Rhodes said.
Celusta was released on a $1,000 cash bond and is due back at the 35th District Court for a preliminary examination July 28. Before the accident, he had a clean record.
“It doesn’t appear that he was in any kind of previous trouble,” Rhodes said.
