Two men facing charges after 'target practice' in Barrington neighborhood

An off-duty Rhode Island State Police officer helped Barrington police apprehend two men who fired off a handgun in the middle of a residential neighborhood on Saturday afternoon, March 18.

Barrington police said they received a call for shots fired near Lister Drive at about 4 p.m. Officers responded and saw that the off-duty trooper had detained both men — James S. Cornelison, 21, of 177 Washington Road, and Jordan J. Oliveira, 20, of Fall River.

The trooper said Mr. Cornelison had a gun in his jacket pocket. Police seized the gun, an older .38 caliber pistol. Officers also found two pill bottles containing schedule IV pills. (Mr. Cornelison did not have prescription for the pills.)

Police said Mr. Cornelison had been at his grandfather's house and had consumed a couple of beers. The gun reportedly belonged to his grandfather.

Mr. Cornelison told police he and Mr. Oliveira had gone into a small wooded area nearby and fired two shots at a can they had set up for target practice. The woods are surrounded by homes on Ellis Street, Lister, Evergreen Street and Martin Avenue, and are often used by people walking their dogs and by children who have set up bike jumps there.

Police charged Mr. Cornelison with not having a license or permit required for carrying a pistol, firing in a compact area, possession of a schedule IV substance, and carrying a weapon while intoxicated. Police charged Mr. Oliveira with firing in a compact area.