Celebratory Gunfire Can Become Deadly

The Richmond Police Department Raises Awareness Ahead of

New Year’s Eve Celebrations to Curb Random Gunfire

Celebratory gunfire is common during New Year’s Eve celebrations and it often has tragic results when innocent people are hit by stray bullets. The reality is that any bullet discharged from a gun, even into the sky, must land somewhere, and when it does, the risk of injury or death is significant.

 As New Year’s Eve approaches, the Richmond Police Department reminds the community of the dangers of celebratory gunfire. Incidents of indiscriminate gunfire can become deadly and willfully discharging a weapon into the air that causes injury to another person can carry a felony charge punishable by one to five years in prison.

Many times, individuals involved in celebrating New Year’s Eve with gunfire do not realize the dangers posed by their actions. Researchers report that a bullet fired in the air can climb two miles in the air and remain in flight for more than a minute. As it falls, the bullet reaches a velocity of 300 to 700 feet per second. A velocity of only 200 feet per second is sufficient to penetrate the human skull.

RPD received 70 calls for service with reports of random gunfire over the 2020 New Year’s Eve holiday into 2021 New Year’s Day, down 34% from the previous year. During the 2019/2020 holiday, 107 calls for service were reported compared to 195 of 2018 into 2019. Just minutes into 2020, La-tiyah Hood, a 28-year-old mother of two was fatally shot at a home as a group of people celebrated by shooting guns into the air.

The men and women of the Richmond Police Department are asking the community to celebrate the New Year safely and responsibly. Don’t fire guns in the air. Remember, what goes up will come down, and when a bullet comes down it could be fatal to you or to someone you love.

 

•          Many believe that celebratory gunfire is harmless. This is a common myth. Firing random bullets may result in death and injury.

•          Random, celebratory shooting is a crime. You could spend up to one year in jail and face up to five years in prison if you are caught.

•          If a stray bullet from your gun should kill someone, you will be arrested and charged with murder.

•          People involved in celebrating the holidays by shooting their gun do not realize the danger posed by their actions.

•          A bullet fired into the air can climb up to two miles. When it falls back to the ground, it can reach a speed of 300 to 700 fee per second.

•          If you ever see someone fire a gun into the air, call 9-11.

•          Celebrate the holidays safely and responsibly. Don’t fire guns into the air.