INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — An umbrella can block the rain from hitting you this New Year’s Eve, but it can’t stop bullets from raining down on you. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department warns people to not celebrate 2025 by shooting guns into the air.

It is incredibly dangerous, in part, because you just don’t know where they’ll come down, IMPD said. “Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve we often hear gunshots and those are typically fired into the air,” IMPD officer Tommy Thompson said.

No matter if it’s a small caliber bullet, or a larger caliber, gravity will bring it down at a speed fast enough to get through your skull.

“We’ve had incidents where individuals in past years have been struck by bullets that have come down,” Thompson said.

Even if someone doesn’t get hit, you can cause serious damage.

In 2019, Indianapolis saw broken car windows and several homes that had holes in their roofs because people shot a gun into the air.

“What goes up must come down and we ask that you please not celebrate in a fashion that requires firing firearms into the air,” Thompson said.

If you’re caught firing a gun into the air you can be charged with a level 6 felony with the possibility of spending six months up to two and a half years years in prison.

IMPD said they’ll also be on the lookout for anyone who over indulges in alcohol and decides to get behind the wheel to drive.

“We will have an increase in patrols doing traffic and enforcement. That will include OWI and DUI enforcement,” Thompson said.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As 2024 draws to a close, some Hoosiers are spreading goodwill to brighten the community. Buca di Beppo, a restaurant known for its family-style Italian meals, is marking the occasion with a special initiative designed to give back.

The restaurant is preparing 75 meals for the Wheeler Mission Shelter in Indianapolis, ensuring individuals in need will have a warm, comforting meal on New Year’s Eve. The meals will feature Buca di Beppo’s signature Italian dishes, served family-style to create a sense of togetherness for those facing hardship.

Wheeler Mission is a non-denominational, Christian organization that provides emergency care, recovery services, and Christ-centered transformation for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty throughout central and south central Indiana, regardless of race, creed, or religion.

Buca di Beppo says its donation aims to support local efforts to assist those in need, offering a comforting family-style meal during a time when many face challenges. This initiative highlights the restaurant’s commitment to spreading hope and fostering community connections during the holiday season.

The meal delivery will take place on Tuesday evening at the Wheeler Mission Shelter’s Men’s Residential Center, located at 245 N. Delaware St. in Indianapolis.

This act of kindness on New Year’s Eve serves as a reminder of the impact that small gestures of community support can have, bringing people together as the year comes to a close.

How you can help

Wheeler Mission is looking for volunteers to purchase, assemble, and deliver sack lunches to supplement hot meals. The lunches should be prepared off-site following the organization’s safety guidelines and can be dropped off at the Men’s Residential Center. Click here to learn more.

INDIANAPOLIS — One person was shot and killed on the south side of Indianapolis Monday night.

According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, officers responded to a report of a person shot in the 4200 block of El Lago Boulevard around 10 p.m.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located a victim with gunshot injuries. The victim was pronounced deceased.

Police did not provide any additional information at this time.