'When a Bullet is Fired in the Air, It Must Come Down'

Bradenton Police are asking residents not to fire their guns into the air this Fourth of July.

“Each year nationwide, you hear of an innocent bystander being struck and killed, due to this senseless act," Deputy Chief of Police Warren Merriman said in a media release. "It's a crime, and potentially deadly, especially in a densely populated area like the City of Bradenton. 

"When a bullet is fired in the air, it must come down, and when it does it descends at a velocity great enough to cause serious injury or death to an innocent person."

Residents who hear gunfire this holiday, even if they're not sure where it came from, are asked to contact law enforcement.

The City of Bradenton Police Department’s non-emergency phone number is 941-932-9300.

"I strongly encourage our citizens to not shoot their firearms during 4th of July celebrations," Merriman said.