The Tampa Police Department is reporting multiple celebratory gunfire incidents throughout the Tampa Bay Area that occurred on the 4th of July.
A man celebrating America's Independence at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay was struck in his left shoulder by celebratory gunfire. Police say it is unlikely that the gunfire came from within Busch Gardens. This incident was one of three that happened late Wednesday and appear to be related to celebratory gunfire. The other two incidents involved minor property damage, but no injuries.
A Tampa woman says she came home to her apartment in Knollwood Manor Apartments at approximately 11 p.m. on the 4th of July to find a hole in her ceiling and a projectile below it on the bedroom floor. Tampa Police believe the bullet appears to be a stray from celebratory gunfire which shot through her roof and into her apartment. There were no injuries and minor property damage, according to police.
A third incident occurred in the area of North 27th Street in Tampa on Wednesday evening. Police say the victim, Vonshay, noticed a hole in the windshield of her 2016 Kia Sol. The bullet went through the driver's side of her windshield. She was not inside the car.
"That bullet could have hit me if I was in the car, you know, thank God...you know...God was on my side," Vonshay said.
Vonshay spoke with ABC Action News, Thursday afternoon. She felt comfortable sharing her story, but she did not want us to use her last name. She said she heard fireworks all day and was shocked when she discovered the bullet in her car.
"It's just amazing how people just don't think......'cause once you shoot them bullets up in the air, they must come down," Vonshay said.
Tampa police officers responded to the scene and determined the evidence was consistent with a bullet being the result of July 4th celebratory gunfire.
Vonshay said her insurance company is going to take care of the cost of fixing her windshield.
"You could kill somebody. You could hurt somebody. (Please) just be mindful of what you're doing," Vonshay said.
