Already facing a slew of charges for a hit and run involving a residence in March, Wyatt James Johnston, 18, of 426 Third St., Montoursville, now faces additional charges related to a false report of a drive by shooting he allegedly gave police on Dec. 29, 2025, state police said in court filings.

Interviewed shortly after 3 a.m., Johnston related that he was at a get-together at a residence in the 100 block of E Water Street in Hughesville, when he went outside and heard two loud bangs as a white or grayish car drove by, court documents said.

A juvenile nearby reacted by grabbing Johnston’s leg and helping him inside to the bathroom, where they wrapped the gunshot wound, the impact of which Johnston said he did not initially feel, he allegedly told police.

Johnston was unable to identify anyone from the vehicle, how many occupants were inside and did not hear anything from the car, adding that he was not from Hughesville, and may have been mistaken for someone else, an affidavit said.

Johnston allegedly admitted to consuming three or four alcoholic beverages prior to the incident, and to marijuana being present at the party, though he stated that he had not consumed any since around 10 or 11 p.m. the prior day.

Informed that authorities would be canvassing the nearby homes and businesses for surveillance consistent with his story, Johnston stated that he had nothing to change about his story.

Johnston further stuck to his story when informed all other party-goers reported the incident to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, allegedly stating that he didn’t know why the stories would differ, and that maybe they knew who was in the vehicle, court documents said.

Johnston allegedly stressed that he was not protecting anyone, including himself, and had never had a firearm in his hand during the incident.

Police collected samples from Johnston’s hands as well as the clothing he was wearing during the incident to test for gunshot residue.

During police questioning in the presence of his mother, Johnston was informed that a firearm was located in the rear of the residence within an abandoned purse, at which time Johnston allegedly stated “I’m going to change stuff now,” an affidavit said.

Johnston allegedly went on to relate that the firearm, belonging to his mother’s boyfriend, which he had taken roughly a month to a month and a half prior, had accidentally went off in an upstairs bathroom at the party.

He further allegedly stated that he had the gun, a Sig Sauer P365 9mm, in his waistband prior to pulling it out with his right hand because it was pressing into him, also admitting that he did not possess a valid concealed weapons permit.

Two juvenile witnesses who were in the bathroom with Johnston confirmed that the firearm was in his possession at the time of the shooting, with one of them describing Johnston as “playing” with the gun before it fired, court filings said.

A spent brass 9mm Luger casing and 9mm FMJ projectile were seized from the bathroom where the shooting took place, and a query of the firearm’s serial number matched as belonging to Johnston.

He was arraigned on charges of recklessly endangering another person, purchase, etc. of an alcoholic beverage by a minor, theft by unlawful taking, carrying a firearm without a license and making false reports by District Judge William Solomon, and remanded to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $35,000 bail.