WASHINGTON — A man has been charged with taking up residence in an empty Fairfax County house and firing a gun into the house next door.

The Fairfax County police say that someone living on Cherri Drive, in McLean, reported early Monday morning that someone had fired bullets into their house.

When police got there, they say they found Michael Stride, 35, of no fixed address, “squatting” in the house next door. They also found several handguns and a 6-foot python in the house.

Stride was charged with shooting into an occupied building. Animal Control took custody of the snake.

The police are continuing to investigate.