Richmond Police makes good on promise of arrests for celebratory gunfire
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- While some were ringing in the new year, gunshots were ringing out in Central Virginia, despite local police warning against celebratory gunfire just days prior.
The Richmond Police Department (RPD) received dozens of calls for random gunfire on the new year's holiday. RPD took in one man just hours into 2026, thanks to his own social media post.
That suspect was 40-year-old William McGriff, who livestreamed himself firing rounds into the air on his Facebook account around midnight on Jan. 1.
According to RPD, after seeing the social media post, detectives determined the shooting occurred in the 2300 block of Halifax Avenue. They carried out a search warrant there around 2:28 p.m., recovering the firearm and arresting McGriff for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. RPD said additional charges are pending.
RPD said it received 72 calls on New Year's Eve for random gunfire, including duplicate calls where more than one person called about the same incident.
One Richmond resident who wanted to stay anonymous shared a video showing the trail they believe a bullet made through their ceiling and walls after New Year's. Luckily no one was home, but they said the bullet came through their office and could have killed someone or their dogs.
Just this past Tuesday, Dec. 30, RPD Chief Rick Edwards warned against firing dangerous celebratory gun shots, and promised investigations and consequences.
"Hopefully people will not be shooting guns in the air and discharging their weapons and celebrating," Edwards said. "But, if they do, our officers will be out there to make those arrests."
Henrico Police said it received 55 calls for firearm violations over the New Year holiday, but doesn't specifically track calls for celebratory gunfire. The department made no arrests related to those calls.
Chesterfield County Police said it received 27 calls alleging they heard gunfire on the night of New Year's Eve. None were documented as celebratory gunfire, and no arrests have been made at this time.
