As Clevelanders get ready to ring in the New Year, local law enforcement officials are reminding people that celebratory gunfire can be dangerous — and illegal.
Officials will be on duty throughout Cleveland, including police, fire and emergency medical service personnel, Fox8 reported New Year’s Eve morning (December 31). Citizens need a permit to be able to have and launch fireworks, the city warned.
The City of Cleveland deemed “the consequences and risks of celebratory gunfire” to be, potentially, “significant and serious” in a press release. “Safety starts at home in your neighborhood.”
Last year, police responded to a shooting at about 12:15 a.m. on January 1, 2020. A 38-year-old man was arrested, apparently having shot his 31-year-old girlfriend by celebratory gunfire. She was pronounced dead at MetroHealth Medical Center, WKYC reported at the time.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are making similar announcements, reminding citizens of local laws and safety measures when it comes to celebratory gunfire or fireworks displays.
“Celebratory gunfire remains a problem in many cities, particularly during the holiday season, and sadly, it can often have tragic results when innocent people are hit by the bullets and injured or killed,” a statement from the Omaha Police Department reads. “Any bullet discharged from a hun, even into the sky, must land at some location, and the risks are significant for injury or death.”
Photo: Getty Images