A Mercer County man was charged this weekend with firing a sawed-off shotgun over the head of his live-in girlfriend in Springfield.

The woman, whose name was not released, told state police that she arrived at their Veterans Road home around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, and she was confronted by her boyfriend, Carl T. Stiffy IV, 27, who was wielding the weapon.

The suspect pointed the shotgun at his girlfriend from about 10 feet away, police said. Then he raised the barrel and fired a single round above her head, according to a police affidavit.

After the first round was fired, Mr. Stiffy warned that if his girlfriend came any closer he would shoot her, and she left the scene.

The couple have lived together for 3 1/2 years, and they have a 1-year-old child together. Police did not immediately disclose whether the child was at home at the time.

The woman was not injured, police said.

Mr. Stiffy was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Ronald Antos in Farrell on charges of reckless endangerment, simple assault and making terroristic threats.

He was released on $7,500 bond, pending a preliminary hearing. Judge Antos also ordered, as a condition of the suspect's release from jail, that he have no contact with the victim.