A Durham, North Carolina, woman has died after she was apparently struck by a falling bullet from celebratory gunfire Friday night, despite a warning from police this week for New Year’s celebrants to refrain from the practice.

Durham Police released a public service announcement on Wednesday noting the death of 74-year-old Paulette Thorpe on July 4, 2020, when she was killed by a bullet fired in celebration that struck her in the chest while visiting a friend for the holidays. “Celebratory gunfire is illegal, dangerous, and deadly,” the ad says. “Don’t do it.”

As New Year’s Eve approaches be mindful that celebratory gunfire is a crime that can be deadly. It is not fun and games. In Durham, anyone caught firing a gun into the air could be charged with a CLASS 3 misdemeanor and face a fine of up to $500. https://t.co/dkahMpEbRG

— DurhamPoliceNC (@TheDurhamPolice) December 29, 2021

Someone did it anyway, police said, and they responded to a cardiac arrest call in the city just before 11 p.m. Why they found, however, was a woman lying in a driveway, critically injured by a gunshot., WRAL reported

First responders began life-saving measures and transported the unnamed woman to a hospital, where she died from her injuries.

“Preliminary reports indicate that this incident is likely related to celebratory gunfire,” police said.

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