An Elmont man has been arrested after allegedly firing a gun when he saw individuals tampering with his car in his driveway early this morning.

The incident, which occurred around 3:30 a.m., led to the arrest of 62-year-old David Leary.

Joyce Leary, David’s wife, spoke exclusively with News 12 about the event.

She described the situation as a reaction out of fear, explaining that the couple’s cars had been stolen about a year ago, which led to heightened anxiety about the potential danger.

"He didn’t try to hurt anybody. He was just trying to scare them away," Joyce Leary said. "He thought there were about six people in his driveway, and he was afraid. He reacted out of fear to protect our family."

Police reported that the shots fired struck two vehicles, a garbage can and a fence. No one was injured.

Leary was taken into custody and is facing multiple gun-related charges, including reckless endangerment.

He is currently being held in jail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.