Jeffery Fay, the Burien man who was arrested last week after authorities say he tried to fire a shotgun at passing cars, has been charged with first-degree assault.

King County sheriff's deputies were called to the area of South 128th Street and First Avenue South in Burien around 5 a.m. on March 23 for reports of a man with a shotgun in the area, according to charging documents filed in King County Superior Court.

One witness who called 911 from his cellphone told deputies that Fay leveled the shotgun at him as he drove past that morning, charging papers said. The witness, a former firearms instructor in the military, believed Fay fired at him but that the weapon malfunctioned.

Deputies spotted the suspect with a long-barreled gun and saw him discharge a round as vehicles passed. Deputies ordered him to drop the shotgun, and Fay, 54, complied, authorities said.

Fay told deputies that he had awakened that morning to find that his children were missing, his house had been ransacked and "the next thing he knew he was walking down the street with a shotgun," charging papers said.

"He said he didn't know why he did it, but that he must have been dreaming the whole time," court papers said.

Fay's brother told authorities that the man had a history of sleepwalking, court papers said. Authorities searched Fay's home and found the doors wide open and two rifles "in plain view," court papers said. Deputies could not find anyone inside Fay's home.

Fay was ordered held at the King County Jail on $150,000 bail.