East Boston man faces firearm, drug charges after allegedly accidentally shooting himself

An East Boston man was hospitalized and faces criminal charges after he allegedly shot himself by accident, according to prosecutors.

William Swearengin, 50, was charged with a litany of firearm and drug offenses following a confrontation that occurred Aug. 16 on Main Street in Waltham, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

Waltham police responded to the scene for a report of a person, later identified as Swearengin, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Investigators learned that he allegedly went to a Rich Street home while in possession of a ghost gun, or untraceable firearm, where he had a “brief verbal altercation.”

After this interaction, Swearengin allegedly shot himself by accident, prosecutors said. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he remains as of Saturday afternoon.

A “substantial quantity” of methamphetamine was allegedly found in Swearengin’s possession, according to the DA’s office.

He was charged with possession of an untraceable firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, assault with a dangerous weapon, and trafficking methamphetamine.

Swearengin was arraigned Aug. 24 in Waltham District Court and pleaded not guilty, records show. He was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing and is due back in court Tuesday morning.

Waltham police and the DA’s office are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident.