Police warn against celebratory gunfire to avoid ‘incredibly tragic’ deaths, injuries
VENN
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- More than a decade after a Chesterfield County 7-year-old's tragic death, police are reminding the public of the law named after him.
Brendon's Law went into effect in 2014, making celebratory gunfire a felony offense if it results in an injury or death.
The law is named after Brendon Mackey, a young boy who was at a July 4th celebration at Swift Creek Reservoir when he was struck and killed by a stray bullet in 2013.
The Chesterfield County Police Department says the bullet that struck Brendon is believed to have been fired randomly into the air.
"It's incredibly tragic," said Lt. Adrian Otero with the Community Engagement unit of the Chesterfield County Police Department. "He was seven years old and never got to live his life. That's the risk that happens when you're firing weapons in that manner."
"Whenever you’re firing a weapon into the air, those bullets will come back down and either strike a home, or, in Brendon’s case, strike an individual," Otero said. "And [it] could potentially injure them very seriously, or kill them. That’s why this law ... was created and put into effect, to protect community members.”
Even if a bullet fired into the air does not injure someone, it's still a class one misdemeanor.
"Being a responsible gun owner is knowing the potential of being able to potentially hurt somebody when you are irresponsible and not taking that firearm seriously, and what it could potentially do to other people or yourself," Otero said.
Brendon Mackey's case is still unsolved. The Chesterfield County Police Department is asking anyone with information about Mackey's death to contact Crime Solvers.
