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BOULDER — A group of target shooters learning gun safety outside of a Boulder County church is accused of ricocheting bullets into a residential area — something sheriff’s officials say is a growing problem as the boundaries between rural and urban areas collide.

Tyson Abram, 44, called authorities at about 5:40 p.m. March 6 to report that bullets were ricocheting off a homemade range at City on the Hill church, located at Arapahoe Road and 75th Street in unincorporated Boulder County, according to a sheriff’s report released Tuesday.

Abram said at least one errant shot hit the side of a commercial building where he works, about a quarter-mile from the church on Valtec Court. Several homes are located about the same distance to the north.

When deputies arrived at the church, they found Pastor David Vidal, 29, of Frederick, along with his children and Brendan Winans, 21, of Broomfield, shooting at a makeshift target behind the church.

They were firing a 9mm handgun, a .40-caliber handgun and a .22-caliber rifle, according to the report. A deputy noted “there was nothing behind the wooden stand or anything to stop the bullets.”

The group was given a verbal warning; no tickets were issued.

Reached Tuesday, Vidal said there was “zero possibility” the stray bullet came from his group.

“We didn’t do anything illegal, immoral or unethical,” the pastor said. “What we were doing was safe and quite legal.”

According to the sheriff’s report, Vidal was teaching his children gun safety, and argued that the natural rise in the nearby terrain would have stopped any bullets. A deputy disagreed, though, and lectured Vidal and the others about the need for a proper backstop.

Vidal said the church would install a berm as a backstop, if they continue shooting on the property.

Regardless of whether the errant shot came from his group, Vidal said, “we want people to feel safe.”

Read about other errant bullet reports .