Police: Bullet travels through apartment wall, narrowly missing girl

Two men arrested after police search of apartment

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – Two men have been arrested after a gun was allegedly fired  in an apartment and the bullet traveled into another apartment. 

The incident happened at the Tuscany Bay Apartments in Lawrenceburg on January 19. 

Prosecutors say a 9-year-old girl was in the bathroom when a bullet traveled through the room. She was not injured. 

"Officers found a bullet hole on the building’s exterior, and inside they traced the bullet’s path through the complainant’s closet, bedroom, and bathroom," said Prosecutor Lynn Deddens. 

The investigation led Lawrenceburg Police to another apartment where they encountered 29-year-old Ahmed Elnaggar, of Lawrenceburg, and 29-year-old Mahrous Habib, of Aurora. 

Police say the men were not cooperative but Elnaggar eventually handed over an AR-15 rifle that detectives say they determined had recently been fired. 

A search warrant was eventually granted and investigators say they found two guns and ammunition. 

“While executing the search warrant, ISP Evidence Technician Steve Weigel discovered a hole in the living room screen. Upon further investigation, a laser light was shown through the hole, which appeared to be approximately the size of a rifle bullet hole. The laser revealed the area where the bullet had struck the complainant’s apartment building,” Deddens said.

Officers say the bullet had traveled through the bathroom as well as a bedroom. A bullet that was consistent with the rifle round was also discovered, police added.

Here are photos provided by Dearborn Co. Prosecutor Lynn Deddens:

According to police, Elnaggar later said that he was gun cleaning his gun because he was going to the gun range soon when it fired twice. 

Elnaggar told police he was not aiming the gun at anyone and did not intend for it to hit any building. 

He allegedly put the two shell casings in a garbage bag that he took to the dumpster and police said they found that garbage bag as well. 

“On January 21, Detective Schmaltz spoke with the apartment complex manager who informed him that the name on the lease for the apartment in question.  On January 22, detectives spoke with the man on the lease who informed Detective Shepherd that he allows Elnaggar to stay with him and on the day of the incident, Habib told him Elnaggar had shot out the window trying to shoot dirt but accidentally shot the apartment,” Deddens said. 

Elnaggar has been charged with three counts of Criminal Recklessness and Obstruction of Justice. 

Habib has been charged with Obstruction of Justice.