Woman whose house was hit by celebratory gunfire: 'It's very dangerous'

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With the Fourth of July coming up Friday, there's a new warning against celebratory gunfire.

A child last year, and even a pilot flying over the city around New Year's last year, were hurt by celebratory gunfire. Action News talked to one woman who said she and her grandson had a very close call.

"You hear 'em now, don't ya?" said Ms. Taylor

This time of year, Taylor listens a little more closely to the sounds in her Northside neighborhood. 

"Cause you don't know it it's fireworks or if it's gunshots, you know?" she said. 

She didn't want us to show her face on camera, still shaken by the bullet that landed in her home in 2012. It nearly hit her grandson. 

"And it just brings back memories of when that bullet went through my house," she said.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is reminding people that celebratory gunfire is illegal in the city limits and patrol officers will be listening.

"Some of us like call it common sense, Sam. We want you to have a good time on the Fourth of July. But when it comes to firing off weapons of any kind, what goes up must come down unfortunately," said JSO Public Information Officer Christian Hancock.

That's a lesson Taylor hopes people will heed this Fourth of July.

"It's very dangerous. It's very dangerous," Taylor said.

JSO said if you hear this type of gunfire but you don't think it's a life or death situation, call the non-emergency line so officers can determine whether it's fireworks or gunshots.

WJAX