A 9-year-old San Antonio boy was hit by a stray bullet that entered his home on the city’s West Side. It was New Year’s Eve and he was getting ready for bed.
The bullet went through the mobile home’s wall and hit him right above the knee, according to the San Antonio Police Department.
Just after midnight, another man in a nearby neighborhood was standing in his front yard listening to the sound of what he thought were fireworks when he, too, was hit by a stray bullet in the arm.
Earlier that day, on the Northeast side of Bexar County, a stray bullet pierced the roof of a home and got lodged in the living room ceiling. All across the city, residents reported damages from stray bullets from celebratory gunfire.
The city’s Governance Committee, which reviews new policy initiatives, on Jan. 15 passed a motion to approve a council consideration request filed by Councilwomen Teri Castillo (D5) and Marina Alderete Gavito (D7) asking that the city roll out a public service campaign called “Call the Shots,” to encourage residents to report gunfire and stray bullets.
The councilwomen, whose districts include the West side of San Antonio, said the policy was created in response to an increase in resident calls.
“[Residents are] hearing more gunfire in their neighborhoods. It’s hard to feel safe in your house when you’re hearing gunshots,” Alderete Gavito said after the Governance Committee meeting.
The campaign would inform residents what to do to report gunfire so police officers know where to focus their efforts to find those responsible.
In 2023, SAPD Chief William McManus said the department received 102 calls for shots fired around the new year’s holiday.
That following year over the new year’s holiday, calls more than tripled to 361.
And on July 4, SAPD got 304 calls about gunfire, he said.
Last year, the police department rolled out a public awareness campaign during the holidays about safety tips that included information about celebratory gunfire.
Even though most celebratory gunfire is banned in Texas, there are exceptions as this 2017 report from The Texas Tribune explains.
“The New Year and Fourth of July are supposed to be times of celebration for our San Antonio families,” Castillo said. “When someone recklessly fires bullets into the air, we want to ensure that our residents understand the proper ways to report these cases. Our proposal aims to educate and equip our residents and keep each other safe.”
Over the years, stray bullets have also contributed to damage to the San Fernando Cathedral’s roof downtown, which in 2023 was replaced because of bullets inspectors found on the roof.
In the past, SAPD used a gunshot alert system that allowed residents to report gunfire at specific locations. It ended in 2017 due to costs and limited success.
Lawmaker proposes state bill banning celebratory gunfire
State Rep. Liz Campos, whose district includes San Antonio, plans to introduce a bill this legislative session to get a similar gunfire reporting program in Texas.
The program would show law enforcement location information of where shots were heard to help law enforcement investigate.
Last year, Campos said stray bullets entered her home and hit her bedroom and kitchen table while her family wasn’t home.
“Had I been home, I probably wouldn’t be talking to you right now, because it literally hit my kitchen table and went into my cabinets,” she said.
When she looked into the issue statewide, she found the public only reports about 15% of gunshots they hear.
“People just don’t report it. It’s like its becoming normal,” she said.
She plans on bringing in state Rep. Armando Martinez (D-Weslaco), who was shot in the head by a stray bullet on New Year’s Day in 2017, to help author the bill.
To report the sound of gunfire or a stray bullet, call the non-emergency line at 210-207-SAPD.
