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Police Warn Of Stray Bullets This Fourth

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – "Do whatever you do for fun…but don't use a gun."

This is the advice Miami Police Chief Manny Orosa offers to those celebrating this Fourth of July.

The police chief and Major Gary Jeannition were among law enforcement and community leaders who gathered for the 14th year in support of the Rickia Isaac Foundation to warn about the dangers of stray gunfire.

"If you shoot your gun in the air…it's going to come down regardless of the angle, regardless of where you shoot the bullets. When it comes down, somebody's going to get hurt," said Jeannition.

On New Year's Eve, somebody did get hurt: a six-year-old boy.

Just after midnight on Jan. 1, 2010, a 6-year-old Italian tourist was struck in the chest by a falling bullet shortly after midnight as he dined with his parents at a Midtown restaurant. While the tourist survived, the goal of this gathering is to prevent it from happening again.

Unfortunately, it did happen again.

On New Year's Eve, a boy was hit by a stray celebratory bullet inMiami's Design District while eating dinner with his family.

Such serious injuries motivated officials to launch "One Bullet Kills The Party" in collaboration with Miami-born rapper Pitbull.

It is a crime to fire celebratory shots in public, and Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado warns those who dare to defy the law.

"If you do it, you will get caught," said Regalado.

"We have to do our part, and our part is to make sure you report it," said Miami City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones.

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