A 21-year-old man may face criminal charges after he accidentally shot his roommate in the arm Tuesday, Golden police said.

The roommate, a 20-year-old woman, was taken to a local hospital, where she was treated and released.

The man told officers that he had received a 45-caliber semi-automatic handgun the day before and wanted to try it out. He said that he didn't know the gun was loaded when he fired one round into the basement ceiling.

The bullet rocketed up from the basement, through the house, and struck the woman while she was on the third floor.

Police arrived at the home, on the 17000 block of West 16th Avenue, on the report of an accidental shooting and questioned the man. The identities of those involved were not released.