Self Storage- How far will a Bullet travel in Self Storage????

Went on vacation for a week. Came back to one of our newest locations which is only about 2/5's full, part of the story. Driving through I noticed a hole in one of the Doors. Got onthe camera history to see who backed into it. But no one did. There was a solid door, then a hole appeared from thin air. Wow. I thought maybe someone from afar had fired a shot our way. Walked out to look at it and could tell it came from inside theunit. Opened the unit up and saw where the bullet went through the sidewall. Opened up the next wall, saw it went through another sidewall. Opened another unit up and saw where it came through a middle wall. Went to the other side of the building, opened that unit up and could tell it came from the next unit which was occupied. All of the units I had opened were not rented yet luckily.

Looked at the camera history again. There was only one person on the premises at the time, I saw the door whole and then a hole appeared. And it came from their unit. Watching their activities, you could see them come out quickly, the same time the hole appeared on the other side of the building. Called, asked them if they shot a gun off in their unit and got, "Who me?". "No."

Called the police to do a report. We saw where the bullet exited the door, then luckily the officer saw where it crossed the aisle and went through another door which was occupied. Opened the next unit up and saw where it came into the room and then just at the roofline it hit a heavy piece of metal so it didn't go through the roof. The officer found the bullet, which was from a 12 gauge shot gun.

The officer said they could take the report in case I chose Civil actions to help get them to pay for repairs. Or if they didn't pay, then I just needed a quote and convert to a Criminal action.

Called the renter again and told them the story. They said it was not a shotgun. Okay, what was it. "I don't have to tell you." I explained we found the slug and it was from a
shotgun (50 caliber size). And the holes fit that. She said no it wasn't a shotgun and a shotgun would make smaller holes (who cares, it's a hole in my brand new storage complex). Okay, I'll get a quote then we can talk.


Attached below is the Quote. Brand new, no patching our brand new location.

Sent this to them and they said no way. I had already told them it would cost a couple Thousand. Although they stayed calm, could tell they thought they were the victim and I was the antagonist. I explained their husband should never have stored a loaded shotgun
(them, "it wasn't a shotgun"), he should have had it on Safety, and it should have been in a case. Response. "It wasn't a shotgun". "I want pictures of all the holes. I want the phone number for the company quoting (on the quote). I want a copy of my contract."

This person had kept working in their unit and never drove around to see where the bullet went or if anyone was hurt.

So how far does a bullet travel through a Storage location? 5 Walls,
Two Doors and luckily hit a thick roof beam and stopped. $3,235 total.

Key points.
a. This was an accident, but they aren't admitting to it, giving any information
and to them it's my fault and not theirs.

b. If I do this through a civil case, if they don't pay, I have to sue and pay legal fees.
Even if we win, we still have to collect.

c. If I do this as a Criminal charge, I don't have to sue, no legal fees. Our costs will be part of the charges, which would include restitution. This will follow them. However, they get a weapons record, for an accident. Will see how it plays out this week.