Illegal celebratory gun shots fired over New Year's Eve in South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind.--- As many of us were ringing in the New Year, gunshots were ringing out at all hours of the evening.

The illegal celebratory gunfire is putting some South Bend neighbor’s on edge. Sgt. Dan Demler of the South Bend Police Department, said they were only able to report shots fired on the northwest and southwest side of South Bend. This is because their shot spotter only locates gunfire in those areas.

In the last 24 hours, in the areas where the guns were reported, 77 shots were traced. Sgt. Demler said of those shots fired, 68 were on their midnight shift.

Sgt. Demler said there were as many as 20 rounds of shots fired at once. He said there were a couple reports of property damage in the area, but thankfully, no one was hit.

One neighbor, Arthur Flores, said it’s only a matter of time before the celebrations go too far.  

“It’s scary for kids you know, especially for families living in a house sleeping,” said Flores. Especially if someone’s shooting out, you never know where the bullets are going to land.”

Sgt. Demler said the goal is to prevent people from getting hit with a bullet. He said they are able to trace bullet casings to potentially find out who and where they’re coming from.