Stray bullet hits man on New Year's Eve

MIAMI (WSVN) -- The New Year has brought the same old problem: people celebrating with guns.

Every year there is the warning about the dangers of firing a gun into the air. Those bullets will fall somewhere.

On New Year's Eve, in the area of Northwest 32nd Street and 24th Avenue, one man was a victim to the reckless act. "Just after midnight," said Randy Ruiz, "one of the guests of the house started complaining that there was some blood on his shirt."

According to the homeowner, he and his friend were outside of the house watching fireworks when his friend felt a warm sensation in his arm. "We saw a hole in his left arm," said Ruiz. "And apparently it was like a bullet hole."

City of Miami Fire Rescue responded to the scene. They checked out the victim, but they didn't transport him. "Once they took a better look at it," said Lieutenant Ignatius Carroll, "they noticed that he was possibly shot in the arm, which appears to be possibly from a bullet that possibly fell from the sky. Luckily, the guy did not sustain any serious injury because it was very close to his head, in the shoulder area, where it landed, so this could've been a lot worse than what it really was."

Once again, police have issued their usual word of warning, but, it seems to little avail. "Obviously, those warnings are not being heeded," said Carroll. "There are still people that are doing it, and we don't even know what the excitement is from shooting in the air when you can have the same effect from shooting in the ground."

Children were also in the area at the time. Fortunately, no one else was hurt.

If you were in the area and saw somebody shooting guns, police would like to hear from you. Call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

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