A Pottstown man has been charged with attempted murder after shooting a police officer who responded to his home twice within two hours Friday afternoon in connection with domestic violence calls, according to Pottstown police and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

William Ciccoli Jr., 42, was struggling with Cpl. Anthony Fischer grabbed Fischer’s gun and fired a single shot while another officer was trying to arrest him, according to a statement released Saturday by District Attorney and Pottstown Police Chief Michael Markovich.

The statement stated that Fischer was shot in the right hip area and that his condition was stable after surgery at Reading Hospital Trauma Center on Saturday.

The shooting occurred just after 4.30pm on Friday.

The police and the prosecutor’s office gave the following information:

At 2:40 p.m., Fischer and Pottstown Police Officer John Schmalbach responded to a call about a domestic disturbance at an apartment in the 200 block of Chestnut Street shared by Ciccoli and his girlfriend.

Officers gave the woman information about domestic violence resources, and she and Ciccoli agreed to stay away from each other. Schmalbach planned to issue two citations to Ciccoli for mail harassment and criminal mischief.

Two hours later, Fischer and Schmalbach returned to the apartment, again due to a domestic disturbance. The woman, who had marks on her neck and swelling around her left cheekbone, told police Ciccoli grabbed her by the neck and made it difficult for her to breathe.

While Schmalbach tried to detain Ciccoli, Ciccoli attacked Fischer. “He’s trying to take my gun,” the corporal was heard saying on his body camera. As Schmalbach places his Taser on Ciccoli, a gunshot is heard in the video before Ciccoli’s hands can be seen on the gun.

In addition to the attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, Ciccoli is also charged with aggravated assault and related offenses in connection with Fischer. He is also charged with strangulation, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person in connection with his girlfriend’s injuries.

Ciccoli was being held in the Montgomery County Jail pending a bail review hearing scheduled for Monday in Common Pleas Court.