BUTLER TWP — Atownship man is accused of firing a shot that narrowly missed hitting his girlfriend Sunday afternoon as she sat just several feet away in the couple's Bartley Avenue home.

Kenneth Purvis Jr., 39, told police the pistol went off accidentally, according to court documents.

Tina Gerard, 39, said her boyfriend was not pointing the gun at her when it fired.

Police, however, charged Purvis with reckless endangerment. He was arraigned on the misdemeanor charge and placed in the Butler County Prison on $15,000 bond.

The incident involving a 38-caliber pistol occurred shortly before 3:10 p.m. The bullet went through the living room wall. The defendant claimed he was "playing"with the gun when it "accidentally discharged," documents said.

After the shooting, he went to the basement and put the gun in a drawer.

Police said Gerard got the gun and drove to her sister's house in Pittsburgh, where Pittsburgh police came and took the gun.

Butler Township Police Chief Gary Garman said Gerard has refused to grant police a formal interview at the station.

Apreliminary hearing for Purvis is scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday before District Judge Kevin O'Donnell.