David Sullivan (Submitted)

Richard Sullivan opened the front door Saturday night and saw a man and the metal of a 12-gauge cannon, police said.

Sullivan reached for the shotgun and grappled with his attacker, tilting the mouth of the firearm toward the ceiling of his Peach Bottom Township home as it spat out a round.

Had it fired several feet lower, it could have ripped through the wall of the room next door, the room of Sullivan's sleeping 6-year-old boy, police said.

The attacker -- Sullivan's cousin, police said -- was taken to York County Prison on Sunday in lieu of $250,000 bail after police arrested and charged him in the shooting that occurred just before 11:30 p.m. Saturday, state police said,.

David Sullivan was charged with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and the discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, police said.

Richard Sullivan, 35, would not tell police why his 38-year-old cousin would have confronted him, saying only that David Sullivan was intoxicated at the time.

"He wouldn't have done it otherwise," Richard Sullivan said Sunday afternoon.

The two had scuffled with each other at the home on Hilltop Road earlier Saturday night. Minutes before the encounter, David Sullivan prodded his cousin into a fight on the front lawn, police said.

The brawl ended when David Sullivan surrendered and both apologized, police said. Richard Sullivan drove his cousin back to his nearby

It took about 15 minutes for David Sullivan to arm himself and return to the house, police said.

Richard Sullivan said he and the boy's mother, Dolores Irwin, who police said stood behind him during the struggle, approached the doorway unaware that his cousin had a weapon.

No injuries were reported from the gunshot.

After the shotgun fired, Richard Sullivan wrestled his cousin off the wooden steps leading to his front door. He threw the gun in the house and rained blows on his attacker, he said, restraining him until police arrived.

His son, he said, remained asleep throughout the incident.

epaik@ydr.com; 771-2001

AT A GLANCE

David Sullivan, 38, of Delta was arrested Saturday night after he aimed a shotgun at his cousin Richard Sullivan, police said. The confrontation took place at Richard Sullivan's Peach Bottom Township home on Hilltop Road.

A shot was fired into the ceiling as Richard Sullivan fought to control the gun.

David Sullivan was taken to York County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Richard Sullivan said he and the boy's mother, Dolores Irwin, who police said stood behind him during the struggle, approached the doorway unaware that his cousin had a weapon.

No injuries were reported from the gunshot.

After the shotgun fired, Richard Sullivan wrestled his cousin off the wooden steps leading to his front door. He threw the gun in the house and rained blows on his attacker, he said, restraining him until police arrived.

His son, he said, remained asleep throughout the incident.

epaik@ydr.com; 771-2001