Chinese gunman ‘fired at 20 parked cars to check sights of his new air rifle’

A Chinese gunman allegedly shot at 20 different vehicles parked near his home as target practice to help align the sights of his new air rifle, mainland media reports.

Police detained the suspect, in his 30s, who lives in a rented apartment in Hefei, Anhui province, earlier this month after several car owners had complained last month that their vehicles had been damaged by gunshots, the news website Anhuinews.com reported.

The man, identified by his surname Chen, reportedly admitted firing at the vehicles over a four-day period.

He allegedly told police he had fired at the vehicles to help him correctly align the sights of his newly bought air rifle.

Local police said a number of motorists complained that their windscreens were damaged after being hit by air pellets while parked near or inside a residential area in the city.