DORAL, Fla. — Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz was surrounded by police chiefs from across the county Monday, delivering an important message about the dangers of celebratory gunfire, especially on nights like New Year’s Eve.
“If you see or hear someone firing into the air, call us. Dial 911. Do not wait. Do not assume someone else is going to report it. Lives are at stake,” Cordero-Stutz said. “Bullets shot straight up come back down at deadly speeds, no matter what people may think. We have felt this pain here at home.”
This past New Year’s Day, 10-year-old Yaneliz Munguia was killed by a stray bullet.
“A bullet fired into the air can travel as far as three miles, more than enough distance to cross city and county limits,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Those rounds can also damage homes, piercing roofs, shattering windows, or worse, seriously injure or kill someone.
“We will have high-visibility patrols, we will use all available technology to detect gunfire and respond immediately and we will track and arrest anyone who chooses to endanger this community,” Cordero-Stutz said.
It’s not only dangerous, but illegal. Cordero-Stutz said anyone caught firing a gun into the air could possibly face a large fine and even jail time.
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