'What goes up, must come down.' Woman loses brother to falling bullet, then has house hit

Tiffany Barnett was nine years old when her older brother was killed by a bullet that was shot into the air. She did not think that years later she would be triggered by someone taking those same actions.

It was just after midnight on New Year's Day when a bullet came through her roof and became lodged in the drywall of her home. She and her family had just finished celebrating together.

"We heard it but didn't realize it was literally so close to home. We heard people shooting outside in the neighborhood. I didn't notice until I went to change the dog bowl. I saw white power and residue on the floor so I looked up and there is a silver piece sticking out," Barnett said.

Her thoughts immediately turned to her brother who was shot when someone fired into the air outside a club years earlier.

"He was just minding his business ... somebody just shot into the air, that bullet came down and went right through his brain. I just kept thinking, this could have easily been my mother, my husband or the dog. I didn't feel safe in my neighborhood anymore. We called the police," she said

Don't be that person: You absolutely should not fire a gun into the air this July Fourth. Just don't.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said twice a year they get an increased call load for possible shots fired and that is on New Years Eve/Day and on 4th of July. Fireworks can often be mistaken as gunshots, but police said some people shoot off "celebratory" rounds for the holidays.

Shooting a firearm into the air could be constituted as criminal recklessness and if committed, and police say you will be arrested.

"It was a few short years ago that we lost a juvenile to the same type of incident where a gun was fired in the air and a round struck that child. That family continues to grieve every time it's Fourth of July when it should be a time for celebration," Indianapolis officer Tommy Thompson said. "Unfortunately, for them, it's a reminder of how dangerous firing a gun into the air is."

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Thompson said officers will be spread throughout the city ready for the influx of calls they anticipate will come throughout the night. Police also remind people that they have until midnight to pop off fireworks and if people see something threatening life or property, they should call 911.

"Let's enjoy this time with our friends and family," said Thompson, "And remember, if you or someone is thinking about shooting a firearm into the air, think twice. 'Maybe I'm not going to do it because what if that was my family that a bullet would come down on.'"

Pamela Gray has three children and 10 grandchildren who celebrate the Fourth of July. In preparing for the holiday, she knows that there are people out there who blindly shoot their guns into the air because she can hear it.

"They are silly just like anybody else who would shoot a gun. They don't have no other way to celebrate so they just keep shooting. With bullets, you don't know where they are going," Gray said.

We've been over this before: ISP says it's 'very dumb' to fire guns into the air on the Fourth of July

Barnett feels people are desensitized to the dangers of shooting off rounds into the air.

"It's so normal. It's expected. Until it happens to you. Even with my family, we were desensitized. We were just laying in bed and relaxing around the house listening to these gunshots pop off after the fireworks," Barnett said.

Captain Ron Galaviz with the Indiana State Police said they want people to enjoy the holiday and celebrate but do so responsibly.

"It's illegal to blindly shoot a firearm into the air. It's completely unsafe and it's a lack of respect for the safety of others. You don't know where a round can come down," Galaviz said. "Whatever goes up, must come down."

Seriously, don't do it: Please, please, please, please, please don't fire your gun into the air on July Fourth

And the punishment can be stiff.

"It can go up to a level 6 felony when you have a deadly weapon involved. It can go up to level 5 felony if shooting that gun results in the death or injury of another person. Our entity may cover more rural areas than in a city, but these rounds can travel a good distance even in the middle of nowhere," Galaviz said.

Barnett wants people to not shoot their guns into the air on July 4 (or any other day).

"It has been two times in my life where this has affected me. Once, when my brother was killed because of this and twice when we could have been," Barnett said. "Someone has shot into my home and I want this stopped, banned, or a stronger law against it."

Contact Jade Jackson at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'What goes up, must come down.' Woman loses brother to falling bullet, then has house hit