AUBURN — Prosecutors have dropped one of two charges against a Lewiston man accused of shooting at a man outside a Lewiston apartment complex Monday.

Jerome Hudson, 43, of 77 Rideout Ave. was arrested and charged with domestic violence criminal threatening and reckless conduct, both felonies, each punishable by up to five years in prison.

Hudson appeared Wednesday in 8th District Court in Lewiston where his bail was reviewed. He remained at Androscoggin County Jail on Thursday in lieu of $50,000 cash bail. Prosecutors dropped the domestic violence charge against Hudson.

Police responded Monday morning to reports of shots fired at the Hillview Apartments complex shortly before 8 a.m.

Jonathan Smith, 33, told police he had come by the apartment of Jessica Morgan, 34, who lives there with their three children, ages 7, 9 and 11. Smith said he normally visits them to deliver snacks before they leave for school.

On Monday morning, during his visit, he and Morgan began to argue and Hudson, Morgan’s live-in boyfriend, came downstairs and confronted Smith, he told an officer, according to a police affidavit.

The two men argued. After Smith left the apartment, Hudson exited the back door, circled around the building and began firing at Smith with a handgun, he said.

Hudson fired three shots, then fled on foot. Smith fled the scene in his car after falling on ice, according to the affidavit.

Smith was not hit by any of the rounds, police said.

Police recovered three shell casings from a 9 mm handgun from the area where Smith said the shooting occurred.

Police found a safe in the bedroom of the apartment and a box of 9 mm ammunition that was missing 14 rounds.

After an extensive search involving several law enforcement agencies, officers found Hudson on a nearby street, according to the affidavit. He was arrested and interviewed at the Lewiston police station at 177 Park St. after waiving his Miranda rights, the affidavit said.

He told police he had been awakened by an argument between Morgan and Smith. He said he saw from his bedroom window Smith retrieving something from his car. Hudson said he put his handgun in his pocket and went downstairs, according to the affidavit.

Hudson said Morgan was holding the door to prevent Smith from entering the apartment. Hudson said he exited the back door and circled around the building and fired warning shots in the air as Smith appeared to reach for something on his body.

Hudson told police he fled into nearby woods to escape their detection. He said he took the handgun apart before dropping it in a storm drain so that no children could find it and hurt themselves. He said he couldn’t remember where he had disposed of the gun, the affidavit said.

Morgan told police that Smith had come to her apartment to visit their children. The two men argued, then Smith left. Hudson shot at Smith as her two daughters watched, according to the affidavit.

She told police that Hudson had kept a black handgun in a safe in their bedroom.

cwilliams@sunjournal.com