KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is warning people against firing guns into the air as a way to celebrate on New Year's Eve.
KCPD and KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas delivered the annual message Thursday along with a simple warning: such celebratory gunfire is a dangerous activity that puts lives in danger.
According to KCPD Sgt. Jake Becchina, when a bullet shot in to the air leaves a gun barrel, it comes back down at the same velocity as when it left it.
"So, that is why we get damage to houses, we get injuries to people if it strikes them as it comes back down," Becchina said during a news conference.
The department received 316 calls regarding the sound of gunshots last New Year's Eve, according to Becchina.
Lucas encouraged people to do their part in stopping family or friends from participating in celebratory gunfire.
"Importantly, if you know someone in your family who engages in those sorts of activities or a friend, tell them not to," Lucas said. "Tell them to chill on that sort of thing — hopefully forever, but really tonight."
KCPD posted this tweet from New Year's Eve in 2019. It shows a bullet hole in the wall near where a couple was sleeping in their bed when a celebratory bullet landed.
This is what happened last New Year's Eve. A couple sleeping in their bed in the 5100 block of Osage had a bullet come through their wall. Miraculously, no one was hurt. Celebratory gunfire is illegal and dangerous. If you see/hear where it is originating, please call 911. pic.twitter.com/Vq9tNGgdxb
— kcpolice (@kcpolice) December 31, 2020
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