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Celebratory gunfire shatters fire station window, narrowly misses firefighter

It's an unspoken yearly St. Louis tradition, some say should end in 2019.
Credit: ksdk

On New Year's Eve in St. Louis hundreds of shots were fired into the sky to celebrate the new year, and according to Issac Newton, they all landed somewhere.

One of them ended up in a St. Louis firehouse, narrowly missing a firefighter.

"It just so happen that the bullet came through the window adjacent to where he was standing and missed him," said St. Louis fire captain Leon Whitener.

Travis Sheridan recorded video of the celebratory gunshots from the 3rd floor of his St. Louis home.

"From about 11:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. it was just consistent bullets after bullets," said Sheridan. 

In the video posted on Twitter, it's not about what you see but about what you hear.

"It's always loud and shocking and always disappointing. I mean I don't really know why people want to shoot live ammunition into the air but it is part of the St. Louis charm I guess," said Sheridan.

5 On Your Side found dozens of public social media videos of St. Louisans aiming their pistols toward the night sky.

"Thankfully nothing happened to us not a bullet through the roof or anything," said Sheridan.

But over at the Engine 9 firehouse in St. Louis, Whitener says they weren't so lucky.

A stray bullet pierced through one of their windows as one of his firefighters were in their safe place.

"A close call that shouldn't happen… you know you hear this from the mayor the director of public safety the police chief, everyone says the same thing: Firing firearms into the air is not a way to celebrate," said Whitener.

According to this map, hundreds of shots were fired in North St. Louis County alone.

It's an unspoken yearly St. Louis tradition, Travis feels should end in 2019.

"People used to just take out pots and pans and clang them, I mean there's a lot of ways to make noise. High five people, kiss someone next to you. Toast with a glass of champagne. Do anything except shooting a gun," said Sheridan. 

Thankfully the firefighter was not injured.

The St. Louis police department received dozens of calls about New Year's Eve shots fired.

They're asking that anyone who hears these celebratory shots to give them a call.

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