Bullets go through metal roof, Meridional office ceiling

Plenty of fireworks lit the skies of Vermilion Parish over the 4th of July weekend.
Some celebrate holidays synonymous with fireworks, including July 4th and New Year’s Eve, by firing guns into the night sky. While what goes up in regards to fireworks leaves a colorful show, what comes out of a weapon must come down.
Two such bullets pierced the ceiling of the Abbeville Meridional’s office on 318 N. Main St. An employee stepped on the bullet before noticing a hole in the ceiling Monday morning. No one was in the building at the time of the incident. The other bullet hole in the ceiling was discovered that afternoon when an employee climbed on the roof and saw the two bullet holes five feet away from each other.
“We did not have any other similar reports,” Abbeville Police Chief Tony Hardy said.
With the Meridional’s office being closed on Saturday and Sunday, it is unclear when the incident occurred.
Whether the bullet originated from a celebratory shot, Hardy said simply put, there is no appropriate time to fire a weapon in the air.
“It’s got to come down,” Hardy said. “Look at how high these things are going in the air. When it comes down, it’s coming down with some serious force.
“It was definitely enough force to go through (the Meridional’s) roof.”
The chief said fortunately he cannot recall a time in his career where someone has been injured by a falling bullet.
“These bullets can travel a good distance,” Hardy said. “Depending on where you are, like a neighborhood in the city, someone could easily be injured.
“Even if you are outside the city limits, a bullet can easily travel a far distance into a more populated area.”
Someone found to have fired a weapon into the air in Abbeville faces the possibility of multiple charges.
“You could face illegal discharge of a firearm,” Hardy said. “Plus it can include the damage that it could do. If they can be tied to it, they could be charged with criminal damage to property. If (the damage) goes over a certain amount, you could be looking at a felony.”
There is a simple way to avoid those issues.
“Don’t fire your gun into the air,” Hardy said, “at any time of the year.”