An Allston man’s frustration over vermin in his Franklin Street apartment building landed him in Brighton District Court today on charges that he fired an unlicensed rifle at the rats in the halls, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

WILLIAM McABEE (D.O.B. 8/16/54) was arraigned for unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawfully discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. Judge Kenneth V. Desmond set his bail at $2,500.

Assistant District Attorney Janine D’Amico told the court that Boston Police responded to McAbee’s residence on Nov. 20 after a call for shots fired. The officers spoke with a neighbor, who said he’d seen a man with a rifle firing multiple shots into the building’s back yard and common area.

The officers made their way to a unit on the building’s second floor and met with McAbee, who is said to have expressed great frustration with an infestation of rats in the building and allegedly admitted to opening fire on the rodents. He then allowed the officers to retrieve his .22 caliber Smith and Wesson Model 422 rifle and a box of ammunition from his bedroom dresser. The rifle was loaded with one round when they took custody of it.

McAbee allegedly told the officers that he had a valid Firearms Identifications Card but that it was stolen from his car. Further investigation by Boston Police revealed that McAbee’s FID card had expired in 1999.

Boston Police obtained a complaint charging McAbee at Brighton District Court, leading to his summons arraignment today. He was represented by attorney Justin Drechsler and will return to court on Feb. 14.