Celebratory gunfire#Falling-bullet injuries

Depending on the angle it is fired, the speed of a falling bullet changes. A bullet fired nearly vertically will lose the most speed,{{cite web |last1=Siegel |first1=Ethan |title=The Science Of Why Firing Your Gun Up Into The Air Can Be Lethal |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2020/07/02/the-science-of-why-firing-your-gun-up-into-the-air-can-be-lethal/ |website=Forbes |access-date=January 4, 2023 |language=en |date=July 2, 2020}} usually falling at terminal velocity, which is much lower than its muzzle velocity. Despite this, people can still be injured or killed by bullets falling at this speed. If a bullet is fired at other angles, it maintains its angular ballistic trajectory and is far less likely to engage in tumbling motion; it therefore travels at speeds much higher than a bullet in free fall. Dense, small bullets achieve higher terminal velocities than lighter, larger bullets.

Between 1918 and 1920,{{cite news |last1=Petzal |first1=David E. |last2=Bourjaily |first2=Phil |title=What Goes Up. . . |url=https://www.fieldandstream.com/pages/what-goes/ |access-date=January 4, 2023 |work=Field & Stream |date=May 2, 2007}} United States Army Ordnance Corps{{'}} Julian Hatcher conducted experiments to determine the velocity of falling bullets,{{cite web |title=Records of the office of the Chief of Ordnance |url=https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/156.html |website=National Archives |access-date=January 4, 2023 |language=en |date=August 15, 2016}}{{cite web |title=The History of Ordnance in America |url=https://goordnance.army.mil/history/ordhistory.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223235252/http://www.goordnance.army.mil/history/ORDhistory.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2015 |website=U.S. Army Ordnance Corps |access-date=January 4, 2023}}{{cite journal |last1=Abdali |first1=Husain A. |last2=Hoz |first2=Samer S. |last3=Moscote-Salazar |first3=Luis Rafael |title=Cranial Gravitational (Falling) Bullet Injuries: Point of View |journal=Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice |date=April 2018 |volume=09 |issue=2 |pages=278–280 |doi=10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_498_17 |pmid=29725186 |pmc=5912041 |doi-access=free }} and calculated that .30 caliber rounds reach terminal velocities of 90 m/s (300 feet per second or 186 miles per hour).{{cite web |url=http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/March01.htm |title=Bullets in the Sky |author=The Ballistician |publisher=W. Square Enterprises, 9826 Sagedale, Houston, Texas 77089 |date=March 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080331192517/http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/March01.htm |archive-date=March 31, 2008 }}

• {{cite book |last1=Hatcher |first1=Julian Sommerville |title=Hatcher's Notebook |date=1962 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |isbn=978-0-8117-0795-4 |page=514 |url=https://archive.org/download/Hatchers_Notebook/Hatchers_Notebook_text.pdf |access-date=January 4, 2023 |language=en}}
• {{cite book |last1=Hatcher |first1=Julian Sommerville |title=Hatcher's Notebook |url= https://archive.org/details/Hatchers_Notebook |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |year= 1962|isbn=0-8117-0795-4|page= [https://archive.org/details/Hatchers_Notebook/page/n521 514]}} According to computer models, 9 mm handgun rounds reach terminal velocities of between 45 and 75 m/s (150 and 250 feet per second or 100 and 170 miles per hour).{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Brian |title=Can falling bullets kill you? |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2011/03/can-falling-bullets-kill-you.html |access-date=January 4, 2023 |work=Slate Magazine |date=March 30, 2011 |language=en}} A bullet traveling at only 61 m/s (200 feet per second or 135 miles per hour) to 100 m/s (330 feet per second or 225 miles per hour) can penetrate human skin.{{cite book |author=Stewart, Michael J. |title=Head, Face and Neck Trauma: Comprehensive Management |publisher=Thieme Medical Publishers |location=New York |year= 2005|isbn=1-58890-308-7|page= 189}}

Any gunfire can damage hearing of those nearby without ear protection, and blank rounds fired in an unsafe direction can cause injuries or death from muzzle blast at close range, as in the case of actor Jon-Erik Hexum. Birdshot fired from a shotgun disperses and loses energy much faster than slugs, buckshot, or bullets fired from rifles and pistols. Although potentially lethal for many yards at a low angle, fired at a high angle, the main risk of injury from falling "shot rain" is shot landing in the eyes and causing scratches, particularly to persons looking upwards without eye protection.

A Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 80% of celebratory gunfire-related injuries in Puerto Rico, on New Year's Eve 2003 were to the head, feet, and shoulders.{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a2.htm |title=New Year's Eve Injuries Caused by Celebratory Gunfire — Puerto Rico, 2003 |access-date=July 31, 2007 |author1=Rodriguez, I |author2=Mirabal-Colon, B |author3=Alonso-Echanove, J |author4=Rodriguez, C |author5=Rullan, J |author6=Crosby, A |author7=Arias, I |author8=Alvarado-Ramy, F |author9=Balaban, V |author10=Cauthen, B |website=Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |publisher=U.S. Department of Health and Human Services}} In Puerto Rico, about seven people have died from celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve in the last 20 years.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}{{Clarify timeframe|date=January 2021}} The last one was in 2012. Between the years 1985 and 1992, doctors at the King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, treated some 118 people for random falling-bullet injuries. Thirty-eight of them died.{{cite journal

|author=Incorvaia, A.N.

|author2=Poulos, D.M.

|author3=Jones, R.N.

|author4=Tschirhart, J.M.

|date=January 1, 2007 |title=Can a Falling Bullet Be Lethal at Terminal Velocity? Cardiac Injury Caused by a Celebratory Bullet

|journal=The Annals of Thoracic Surgery

|volume=83

|issue=1

|pages=283–4

|doi=10.1016/j.athoracsur.2006.04.046

|url=http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/1/283

|access-date=August 2, 2007 |format=abstract

|pmid=17184680

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928000018/http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/1/283

|archive-date=September 28, 2007

|url-access=subscription

}}

In 2005, the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) ran education campaigns on the dangers of celebratory gunfire in Serbia and Montenegro.{{cite web

|url=http://www.iansa.org/regions/aerial-gunfire.htm |title=Shooting in the air: turning celebration into tragedy|access-date=July 31, 2007 |publisher=International Action Network on Small Arms

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043322/http://www.iansa.org/regions/aerial-gunfire.htm

|archive-date=September 27, 2007

}}

In Serbia, the campaign slogan was "every bullet that is fired up must come down."{{cite news |title=Serbs Told To Keep Guns Quiet On New Year's Eve |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1064242.html |access-date=November 11, 2024 |work=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |agency=Associated Press |date=December 28, 2005 |language=en}}

• Philippine Health Secretary Francisco Duque III noted the drop in stray bullet injuries, in that country, during the 2005 year-end holiday period – from 33 cases to 19.{{cite news|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=75627&d=2&m=1&y=2006&pix=world.jpg&category=World |title=3 Killed, Over 600 Injured in Philippine Year-End Revelry |access-date=August 1, 2007 |work =Arab News| first =Julie | last =Javellana-Santos}}
• The number of complaints regarding random shooting in Dallas, Texas, on New Year's Eve declined from approximately 1,000 in 1999 to 800 each in 2001 and 2002.
• In early 2008, increased partisanship in Lebanon led to the practice of firing celebratory gunfire in support of politicians appearing on local television, leading to multiple deaths and to calls from these leaders to end the practice.

• On January 7, 2008, at about 9:30 pm, a Montenegro Airlines Fokker 100 (4O-AOK) was shot at while landing at Podgorica Airport. A routine inspection of the aircraft led to the discovery of a bullet hole in the aircraft's tail. The aircraft was carrying 20 passengers, but no one was injured. The reason for the incident is unknown; however, reports indicate that it may have been an inadvertent result of guns being fired during celebrations for Orthodox Christmas.{{cite news |title=Passenger jet hit by bullet, slightly damaged |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22572376 |access-date=4 May 2025 |work=NBC News |date=9 January 2008 |language=en |agency=Associated Press}}
• January 1, 2005: A stray bullet hit a young girl during New Year celebrations in the central square of downtown Skopje, North Macedonia. She died two days later. This incident led to the 2006 IANSA awareness campaign.{{cite web |last=Stojanovska |first=Marina |date=January 27, 2006 |title=Campaign in Macedonia raises awareness of dangers posed by gunfire |url=http://www.balkantimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/01/27/feature-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061231174116/http://www.balkantimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2006/01/27/feature-02 |archive-date=December 31, 2006 |access-date=August 1, 2007 |website=Southeast European Times}}
• October 12, 2003: Wedding guests in Belgrade, Serbia mistakenly shot down a small aircraft.{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Matthew |date=October 12, 2003 |title=Serbia wedding guests 'down plane' |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3185884.stm}}

• December 12, 2024: At least six Syrian civilians were reported to be killed as a result of celebratory gunfire following the fall of the Assad regime.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2024 |title=تزامنا مع إطلاق رصاص عشوائي فرحا بسقوط الطاغية بشار الأسد.. 6 مواطنين يفارقون الحياة في مناطق متفرقة |url=https://www.syriahr.com/%D8%AA%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A5%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%B1%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B5-%D8%B9%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%8A-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AD%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B3%D9%82%D9%88%D8%B7/740680/ |access-date=December 13, 2024 |publisher=Syrian Observatory for Human Rights |language=ar}}
• September 4, 2021: At least 17 were killed and 41 were injured in Kabul, Afghanistan, by Taliban militants celebrating their takeover of the Panjshir Valley during the 2021 Taliban offensive.{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/least-17-killed-celebratory-gunfire-kabul-reports-2021-09-04/|title=At least 17 killed in celebratory gunfire in Kabul – reports|work=Reuters|last=Gopalakrishnan|first=Raju|date=September 4, 2021|access-date=September 6, 2021}}
• January 2, 2021: Several parked Middle East Airlines Airbus A320neo airliners at Rafic Hariri International Airport were damaged by falling bullets from celebratory gunfire in Beirut, Lebanon, with an additional death reported in the form of a Syrian refugee who was shot in the head by a stray bullet.{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2021 |title=INCIDENT Bullets fired during the New Year celebration have damaged Middle East Airlines aircraft |url=https://www.airlive.net/incident-bullets-fired-during-the-new-year-celebration-have-damaged-middle-east-airlines-aircraft/ |access-date=April 5, 2022 |website=AIRLIVE |language=en-US}}
• April 6, 2014: A 20-year-old pregnant mother of two, Wadia Baidawi, was struck in the head and killed by a stray bullet from her neighbor's wedding in Sidon, Lebanon.{{cite news |author=Mohammed Zaatari |date=April 7, 2014 |title=Sidon demands security after stray-bullet death |work=The Daily Star, Lebanon |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Apr-07/252497-sidon-demands-security-after-stray-bullet-death.ashx |url-status=dead |access-date=April 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407025355/http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Apr-07/252497-sidon-demands-security-after-stray-bullet-death.ashx |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}
• November 21, 2012: Following a cease-fire ending fighting with Israel, celebratory gunfire in the Gaza Strip killed a man and wounded three others.{{cite news |title=Man killed by celebratory gunfire in Gaza |url=http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=540905 |agency=Ma'an News Agency |date=November 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201062409/http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=540905 |archive-date=December 1, 2012 |url-status=dead}}
• October 30, 2012: Twenty-three people were electrocuted after celebratory gunfire brought down a power cable during a wedding party in eastern Saudi Arabia.{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-wedding-electrocuted-idUKBRE89U0FL20121031?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113142950/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-saudi-wedding-electrocuted-idUKBRE89U0FL20121031?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |title=Celebratory gunfire at Saudi wedding cuts cable, 23 electrocuted |access-date=October 31, 2012 |date=October 31, 2012 |work=Reuters}}
• August 2010: two people were killed and 13 were injured in Jordan, as part of the yearly celebration of the announcement of the result of Tawjihi.{{cite news |url=http://www.greenprophet.com/2010/08/jordan-gunfire-celebrations/ |title=Jordanian King Goes to War Over Celebratory Gunfire |work=Green Prophet |access-date=November 6, 2012 |date=August 20, 2010}}
• July 29, 2007: At least four people were killed and 17 others wounded by celebratory gunfire in the capital city of Baghdad, Iraq, following the victory of the national football team in the AFC Asian Cup.{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=53a2dff5-c8f1-4cf2-b80a-0d333612484c |title=Raining bullets in the Middle East |first=Randy |last=Burton |access-date=July 31, 2007 |date=July 31, 2007 |work=The StarPhoenix |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206045256/http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/story.html?id=53a2dff5-c8f1-4cf2-b80a-0d333612484c |archive-date=December 6, 2007}}{{cite news|title = Gunshots celebrate Iraq soccer win, leave four dead |agency=Associated Press|publisher=AM New York|date=July 30, 2007|pages= 9}} Celebratory gunfire occurred despite warnings issued by Iraqi security forces and the country's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who forbade the gunfire with a religious fatwā.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-07-30-0707290210-story.html |title=Soccer underdogs unite Iraqis |access-date=August 1, 2007 |work=Chicago Tribune}}
• July 22, 2003: More than 20 people were killed in Iraq from celebratory gunfire following the deaths of Saddam Hussein's sons Uday and Qusay in 2003.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/middleeast/2008/04/deadly_merriment_the_fallout_f.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620122423/http://www.cbc.ca/news/reportsfromabroad/middleeast/2008/04/deadly_merriment_the_fallout_f.html|archive-date=June 20, 2008 |title=Mideast Dispatches: Deadly merriment, the fallout from celebratory gunfire |first=Nahlah |last=Ayed |date=April 15, 2008 |work=CBC News |access-date=August 17, 2008}}
• May 17, 2000: Nine people were injured in Turkey by celebratory gunfire from Galatasaray fans after their victory in the 2000 UEFA Cup final.{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/18/sports/soccer-roundup-galatasaray-wins-uefa-cup-after-day-of-rioting-by-fans.html | title=SOCCER: ROUNDUP; Galatasaray Wins UEFA Cup After Day of Rioting by Fans | work=The New York Times | date=May 18, 2000 }}

• December 25, 2012: A stray bullet believed to be related to Christmas celebrations killed a three-year-old girl in Asunción, Paraguay.{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.com.py/nacionales/bala-perdida-mata-a-una-nina-de-tres-anos-494387.html |title=Bala perdida mata a una niña de tres años |access-date=December 27, 2012}}

• November 16, 2016: A self-proclaimed godwoman and her private guards went on a celebratory shooting spree at a wedding in Haryana's Karnal town in India, killing the groom's aunt and leaving three of his relatives critically wounded.{{cite news |date=November 16, 2016 |title=Sadhvi Deva Thakur booked as celebratory firing kills woman |work=Indian Express |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-celebratory-firing-kills-woman-sadhvi-thakur-booked-4377859/}}
• June 6, 2013: a 42-year-old Pakistani woman was killed by a stray bullet from celebratory gunfire. The gunfire was attributed to celebrations for the election of Pakistan's prime minister Newaz Sharif. Her 19-year-old niece was also hit, and rushed to hospital in critical condition.{{cite web

|title=Celebratory gunfire kills woman

|url=http://www.iol.co.za/news/world/celebratory-gunfire-kills-woman-1.1528307#.UbG8RfnTx8G

|work=IOL News

|access-date=June 7, 2013

}}

• February 25, 2007: Five people were killed by stray bullets fired at a kite festival in Lahore, Pakistan, including a six-year-old schoolboy who was struck in the head near his home in the city's Mazang area.{{cite news |url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/26/world/main2514554.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120523232953/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/02/26/world/main2514554.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 23, 2012 |title=11 Dead At Pakistani Kite Festival, Metal Kite Strings, Stray Celebratory Gunfire Claim Lives At Annual Event, More Than 100 Injured |access-date=August 2, 2007 |date=February 26, 2007 |work=CBS News}}
• December 1859: An autopsy showed that a native in India, who suddenly fell dead for no apparent reason, was mortally wounded from a bullet fired from a distance too far for the shot to be heard. The falling bullet had sufficient energy to pass through the victim's shoulder, a rib, a lung, his heart and his diaphragm.{{cite book |title=Gunshot Injuries, Their History, Characteristic Features, Complications, and General Treatment |url=https://archive.org/details/gunshotinjuries00longgoog |first=Thomas |last=Longmore |year=1895 |publisher=Longmans, Green}}

• In December 26, 1819, several Bugis people were on a gunfire spree to celebrate the wedding of their chief Arung Belawa happening in Tanjungpinang, Penyengat Island (present-day Indonesia). However, Dutch officials led by recently elected Resident G.E. Königsdorffer detained some of these men which escalated to the murder of five men including a chief named Raja Ronggik, his death led to an all-out war between the Bugis and the Dutch in January 1820, with many Bugis civilians fleeing to Singapore in the ensuing aftermath.{{cite magazine |url=https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-18/issue-2/jul-sep-2022/ |magazine=BiblioAsia |publisher=National Library of Singapore |date=Jul–Sep 2022 |title=A Royal Wedding Gone Wrong: The 1820 Uprising in Riau That Brought the Bugis to Singapore |first=Benjamin J.Q. |last=Khoo |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=4–9}}

• December 31, 2023: 3-year-old Brayden Smith was with his family New Year's Eve when a bullet passed through their Memphis apartment window, striking the toddler during what police believe was "celebratory gunfire." Brayden was rushed to the hospital, but died around 6 am Jan. 3.{{Cite web |title=Boy, 3, Killed by Stray Bullet from 'Celebratory Gunfire' on New Year's Eve |url=https://people.com/tennessee-boy-killed-stray-bullet-celebratory-gunfire-new-years-eve-8423039 |access-date=January 10, 2024 |website=Peoplemag |language=en}}
• January 1, 2023: Two people, a 40-year-old man and 35-year-old man, died after celebratory gunfire was discharged at a party in Lawrence Township, Michigan. A 62-year-old man was arrested at the scene.{{Cite web |title=Police identify 2 killed by shots fired at New Year's party in West Michigan |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/2-killed-by-shots-fired-at-new-years-party-in-west-michigan/ |access-date=January 2, 2023 |publisher=CBS News |date=January 2, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2023 |title=2 dead from 'celebratory gunfire' at New Year's Eve party in Van Buren County |url=https://www.fox17online.com/news/local-news/2-dead-following-new-years-eve-party-shooting |access-date=January 2, 2023 |publisher=FOX 17 West Michigan News (WXMI) |language=en}}
• December 31, 2021, and January 1, 2022: Multiple people in Durham, North Carolina, were struck by celebratory bullets, including one woman who was killed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/neighbor-speaks-out-after-woman-killed-by-durham-celebratory-gunfire-on-new-years-eve/|title=Neighbor speaks out after woman killed by Durham celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve|author=Brea Hollingsworth|publisher=CBS 17 Local News|date=January 2022|access-date=January 2, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbs17.com/news/local-news/durham-county-news/5-shootings-6-victims-reported-in-durham-as-town-heads-into-new-year/|title=1 dead, 5 shootings, 6 victims reported in Durham as city heads into New Year|author=Kayla Morton|publisher=CBS 17 Local News|date=January 2022|access-date=January 2, 2022}} In Canton, Ohio a man firing celebratory bullets was shot and killed through his wooden fence by police.{{cite news |last1=Levenson |first1=Michael |title=Ohio Officer Shoots Through Fence, Killing a Man Who Was Firing a Gun |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/us/canton-police-nye-shooting.html |work=New York Times |date=January 7, 2022 |access-date=March 15, 2022}}
• January 1, 2020: A patron who was eating dinner at The Big Catch restaurant in St. Petersburg, Florida, on New Year's Day was struck by a celebratory bullet.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Josh |date=January 8, 2020 |title=Exclusive: St. Petersburg Celebratory Gunfire Strikes Restaurant Patron |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2020/01/08/exclusive--st--petersburg-celebratory-gunfire-strikes-restaurant-patron- |publisher=Bay News 9}}
• December 31, 2019: Texas nurse, 61-years-old Philippa Ashford shot to death on New Year's Eve, likely by celebratory gunfire, police say.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-nurse-shot-death-new-year-s-eve-likely-celebratory-n1109311|title=Texas nurse shot to death on New Year's Eve, likely by celebratory gunfire, police say|publisher=NBC News|date=January 2020}}
• January 1, 2017: Armando Martinez, a Texas state Representative, was wounded in the head by a stray bullet during a New Year's celebration.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/02/us/texas-representative-bullet-hits-head/index.html|title='Stray' bullet hits Texas legislator in the head at New Year's celebration|publisher=CNN|date=January 2, 2017}}
• January 1, 2015: A 43-year-old man, Javier Suarez Rivera, was struck in his head and killed while watching fireworks with his family in Houston.{{Cite web |date=January 1, 2015 |title=Celebratory gunfire blamed in Houston man's death |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article5292357.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104030403/http://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article5292357.html |archive-date=January 4, 2015 |website=Texas Star-Telegram}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-texas-death-idUSKBN0KB1B420150102 |title=Texas man watching New Year's fireworks dies of stray bullet |work=Reuters |date=January 2, 2015 |access-date=June 30, 2017 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924212016/http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/02/us-usa-texas-death-idUSKBN0KB1B420150102 |url-status=live }}
• July 4, 2013: A 7-year-old boy, Brendon Mackey, was struck in the top of his head and killed while walking with his father shortly before 9 p.m. amid a large crowd prior to the fireworks display over the Swift Creek Reservoir, outside Richmond, Virginia.{{Cite web |last=Shulleeta |first=Brandon |date=July 6, 2013 |title=Police seek person who fired shot that killed boy |url=https://richmond.com/news/local/chesterfield/boy-shot-in-head-at-chesterfield-fireworks-celebration/article_95a28426-e549-11e2-a881-001a4bcf6878.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601135939/https://www.richmond.com/news/local/chesterfield/boy-shot-in-head-at-chesterfield-fireworks-celebration/article_95a28426-e549-11e2-a881-001a4bcf6878.html |archive-date=June 1, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch}}
• January 1, 2013: A 10-year-old girl, Aaliyah Boyer, collapsed after being struck in the back of the head while watching the neighborhood fireworks in Elkton, Maryland. She died two days later of her injuries.{{Cite web |last=Blanchfield |first=Patrick |date=December 29, 2015 |title=The Sometimes Deadly Celebratory Gunshots Fired on New Year's Eve |url=https://www.thetrace.org/2015/12/celebratory-gunfire-new-years/ |website=The Trace}}
• July 4, 2012: A 34-year-old woman, Michelle Packard, was struck in the head and killed while watching the fireworks with her family. The police believe the shot could have come from a mile away.{{cite news |url=http://statenews.com/index.php/article/2012/07/student_shot_at_fireworks_show_died_next_morning |title=Student shot at fireworks show, died next morning |first=Kellie |last=Rowe |date=July 8, 2012 |work=The State News |access-date=June 6, 2013}}
• January 1, 2010: A four-year-old boy, Marquel Peters, was struck by a bullet and killed inside his church The Church of God of Prophecy in Decatur, GA. It is presumed the bullet may have penetrated the roof of the church around 12:20AM.{{cite news |date=January 2, 2010 |title=Falling Bullet Kills 4-Year-Old Boy In DeKalb |work=wsbtv.com |url=http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/falling-bullet-kills-4-year-old-boy-in-dekalb/nFDwr/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105040411/https://www.wsbtv.com/news/news/falling-bullet-kills-4-year-old-boy-in-dekalb/nFDwr/ |archive-date=January 5, 2013}}
• In March 2008, Chef Paul Prudhomme was grazed by a .22-caliber stray bullet while catering the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. He at first thought a bee had stung his arm, required no serious medical attention, and within five minutes was back to cooking for the golf tournament. It was thought to have been a falling bullet.
• December 28, 2005: A 23-year-old U.S. Army private on leave after basic training fired a 9mm pistol into the air in celebration with friends, according to police, one of the bullets came through a fifth-floor apartment window in the New York City borough of Queens, striking a 28-year-old mother of two in the eye. Her husband found her lifeless body moments later. The shooter had been drinking the night before and turned himself in to police the next morning when he heard the news. He was charged with second-degree manslaughter and weapons-related crimes,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4568568.stm |title= Stray bullet kills S Asian expat |access-date=August 2, 2007 |date=December 31, 2005 |agency=BBC News}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/31/nyregion/31murder.html?ex=1293685200&en=5eec2b1725e9d794&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |title=Soldier Charged in Shooting Death of Woman at Window |access-date=August 2, 2007 |date=December 31, 2005 |work=New York Times |first=Corey |last=Kilgannon}} and was later found guilty and sentenced to 4 to 12 years in prison.{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A04EEDB1631F932A35755C0A9609C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fS%2fSentences%20%28Criminal%29 |title=Metro Briefing : New York: Queens: Ex-Private Gets 4 To 12 Years For Manslaughter |date=June 1, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2007 |work=New York Times |first=Mick |last=Meenan}}
• June 14, 1999: Arizona, A 14-year-old girl, Shannon Smith, was struck on the top of her head by a bullet and killed while in the backyard of her home.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/12/31/20091231shannon1231.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105085733/http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/12/31/20091231shannon1231.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2015|title = Help Center – the Arizona Republic}} This incident resulted in Arizona enacting "Shannon's Law" in 2000, that made the discharge of a firearm into the air illegal.
• January 1, 1999: Joseph Jaskolka of Wilmington was visiting family members in Philadelphia for New Years when he was struck in the head by a stray bullet as he walked with family members on Fernon Street headed to festivities on South 2nd Street in South Philadelphia. The incident is believed to be from gunfire celebrating the New Year. The bullet remains lodged in Jaskolka's brainstem and he was left paralyzed on the right side of his body due to his injury.{{cite web |url=http://newtrajectory.blogspot.com/2012/09/survivor-story-joseph-b-jaskolka.html?m=1 |title=Survivor Story: Joseph B. Jaskolka |date=September 16, 2012 |access-date=February 14, 2021}}
• December 31, 1994: Amy Silberman, a tourist from Boston, was killed by a falling bullet from celebratory firing while walking on the Riverwalk in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana. The Police Department there has been striving to educate the public on the danger since then, frequently making arrests for firing into the air.{{cite web|url=http://secure.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=50&tabid=9 |title=History Of The New Orleans Police Department |access-date=August 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210000906/http://secure.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=50&tabid=9 |archive-date=February 10, 2007}}
• July 4, 1950: Bernard Doyle was killed in his seat while attending a New York Giants game at the Polo Grounds. The bullet was determined to have been fired by Robert Peebles, a juvenile, from an apartment building some distance away on Coogan's Bluff, presumably in celebration of Independence Day.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1950/07/05/archives/mystery-bullet-kills-baseball-fan-in-midst-of-crowd-at-polo-grounds.html |title=Mystery Bullet Kills Baseball Fan In Midst of Crowd at Polo Grounds |newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 5, 1950 |access-date=March 30, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1950/07/05/page/1/article/mystery-shot-kills-baseball-fan-in-crowd-of-49-000 |title=Mystery Shot Kills Baseball Fan in Crowd of 49,000 |date=July 5, 1950 |work=Chicago Tribune |access-date=September 16, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19500708&id=mJItAAAAIBAJ&pg=2991,628948&hl=en |title=Boy Confesses Firing Shot into Polo Grounds |date=July 8, 1950 |work=The Day (New London) |access-date=September 16, 2015}}

• In North Macedonia, a person found guilty of firing off a gun during celebrations faces a jail sentence of up to ten years.
• In Italy, under art.703 of the Penal Code (Dangerous ignitions and explosions), a person found guilty of firing a gun without permission in an inhabited place or nearby, is sentenced to a fine of up to €103, while if they commit the act in a crowded place the sentence may go as high as up to a month in prison. The law also applies to fireworks, rockets, hot air balloons and, in general, "dangerous ignitions and explosions".[It] Art. 703 of Italian Penal code: https://www.brocardi.it/codice-penale/libro-terzo/titolo-i/capo-i/sezione-iii/art703.html
• In Pakistan, section 144 of the Pakistan Penal Code is imposed to prevent aerial firing during celebrations if harm is caused, and an FIR may be registered against a person who does so. However, many cases of aerial firing go unreported.{{cite news|url=http://dawn.com/2012/06/29/celebratory-gunfire/|title=Celebratory gunfire|work=Dawn|date=June 29, 2012|access-date=August 15, 2012|first=Hassan Latif|last=Shaikh}}
• In the United States, crime classifications vary from a misdemeanor to a felony in different states:
• In Arizona, firing a gun into the air was raised from a misdemeanor to a felony by Shannon's law, in response to the death of a 14-year-old from a stray bullet in 1999.{{Cite web |title=Celebratory Gunfire |url=http://www.endgunviolence.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0D44C5F1-C425-4ACA-B209-0D51F4F97474}&DE={1432083D-22B7-436D-9530-56E63AB5F2B4} |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116131439/http://www.endgunviolence.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={0D44C5F1-C425-4ACA-B209-0D51F4F97474}&DE={1432083D-22B7-436D-9530-56E63AB5F2B4} |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |access-date=August 3, 2007 |website=Citizens For A Safer Minnesota}}
• In California, discharging a firearm into the air is a felony punishable by three years in state prison. If the stray bullet kills someone, the shooter can be charged with murder.{{cite web |title=4th of July Gunfire Reduction Program |url=http://www.lapdonline.org/search_results/content_basic_view/7751 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927190451/http://www.lapdonline.org/search_results/content_basic_view/7751 |archive-date=September 27, 2007 |access-date=August 2, 2007 |work=Official web site of the Los Angeles Police Department}}{{cite web |url=http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/news7969 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130072744/http://www.mymotherlode.com/News/article/kvml/news7969 |title=New Years' Eve Gunfire Can Be Deadly |archive-date=November 30, 2006 |date=December 31, 2002 |work=MyMotherLode.com News|publisher=Clarke Broadcasting Corporation}}
• In Minnesota, it is illegal to discharge a firearm over a cemetery, or at or in a public transit vehicle. Additionally, local governments may regulate the discharge of a weapon within their jurisdictions.
• In Ohio, discharging a firearm or a deadly weapon in a public place is classified as disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.{{cite web |url=http://www.wtaw.com/archives.php?phase=show&type=news&item=2264 |title=WTAW News Talk 1620 – News Archives |access-date=August 2, 2007}} {{dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}
• In Texas, random gunfire is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum one year in jail and $4,000 fine. Anyone who injures or kills someone with a stray bullet could face more serious felony charges.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2002/12/31/New-Years-Eve-gunfire-may-bring-jail-time/67071041369090/ |title=New Year's Eve gunfire may bring jail time |access-date=August 2, 2007 |work=United Press International}}
• In Wisconsin, criminal charges for this type of offense range from "endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon" to "reckless homicide" in the event of a death, with penalties ranging from nine months to 25 years in prison."{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=381365 |title=JS Online: Hold the gunfire |date=December 29, 2005 |access-date=August 1, 2007 |first=Jamaal |last=Abdul-Alim |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208230620/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=381365 |archive-date=February 8, 2007 |url-status=dead}}

The non-fiction U.S. cable television program MythBusters on the Discovery Channel covered this topic in Episode 50: "Bullets Fired Up" (original airdate: April 19, 2006). Special-effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman conducted a series of experiments to answer the question: "Can celebratory gunfire kill when the bullets fall back to earth?"

Using pig carcasses, they worked out the terminal velocity of a falling bullet and had a mixed result, answering the question with all three of the show's possible outcomes: Confirmed, Plausible and Busted.{{cite web |url=http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode_06.html |title=Discovery Channel :: Mythbusters: Episode Guide |access-date=July 31, 2007 |work=StarPhoenix |publisher=CanWest Interactive |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823212625/http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode_06.html |archive-date=August 23, 2007}} They tested falling bullets by firing them from both a handgun and a rifle, by firing them from an air gun designed to propel them at terminal velocity, and by dropping them in the desert from an instrumented balloon.

They found that while bullets traveling on a perfectly vertical trajectory tumble on the way down, creating turbulence that reduces terminal velocity below that which would kill, it was very difficult to fire a bullet in this near-ideal vertical trajectory. In practice, bullets were likely to remain spin-stabilized on a ballistic trajectory and fall at a potentially lethal terminal velocity. They also verified cases of actual deaths from falling bullets.{{cite web |title=Annotated Mythbusters: Episode 50: Bullets Fired Up, Vodka Myths III |url=http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2006/04/episode_50_bullets_fired_up_vo_1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727011500/http://kwc.org/mythbusters/2006/04/episode_50_bullets_fired_up_vo_1.html |archive-date=27 July 2011 |access-date=August 1, 2007}}

• Stray bullet
• Warning shot
• Feu de joie
• 21-gun salute

{{Reflist|30em}}

• "Falling bullets: terminal velocities and penetration studies", by L. C. Haag, Wound Ballistics Conference, April 1994, Sacramento, California.

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070928221412/http://www.seenca.org/m/pdf/ar%20for%20celebratory%20gunfire%20campaign.pdf UN Development Programme activity report]
• [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a950414b.html Can a bullet fired into the air kill someone when it comes down?] The Straight Dope
• [http://nfttu.blogspot.com/2005/12/celebratory-gun-firing-good-idea-or.html Celebratory Gunfire: Good Idea or Not?]
• [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/7271134/Groom-shot-dead-at-wedding-by-uncles-stray-celebratory-bullet.html 'Celebratory' shot kills groom]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120603054007/http://tucker.patch.com/articles/spreading-the-word-about-dangers-of-celebratory-gunfire-henry-louis-adams-2 Spreading the Word About Dangers of Celebratory Gunfire: Henry Louis Adams]
• [https://archive.today/20130118055146/http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/minister-fighting-to-end-celebratory-gunfire/8WijsOG8kUhYeqlHWdMMTg Minister Fighting to End Celebratory Gunfire]

{{Firearms}}

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Category:Ballistics

Category:Police culture