Police advise against celebrating Fourth of July by shooting in the air

Two years ago on the Fourth of July, an 11-year-old visiting Indianapolis was struck in the back by a bullet fired into the air. Jataevious Ragsdale – who recovered quickly – was visiting family in Indianapolis for the holiday.

Had he been struck differently by the bullet, Ragsdale may not have had the chance to experience Fourth of July again. Falling bullets have killed other children, like 13-year-old Noah Inman in Hammond in 2017 and 4-year-old Marquel Peters in Atlanta in 2010. 

Holidays like Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve often prompt individuals to celebrate by firing their gun in the air, something the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department strongly advises against doing.

“Every bullet that goes up comes down,” Downtown District Commander Shane Foley said. “So if people think that’s not dangerous, they’re wrong.”

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Those who choose to fire their gun into the air can risk causing serious damage, Foley said, and doing so can lead to an arrest and prosecution. Criminal consequences for firing into the air include criminal recklessness, battery, vandalism and even homicide depending on the damage done.

“People think of it as a harmless act, but those bullets coming down may very well hurt somebody, damage property, hurt animals,” he said.

Bullets shot into the air can travel more than a mile before falling. Smaller rounds can fall at roughly 300 feet per second and larger rounds can descend at nearly 500 feet per second. Speeds of 150 to 170 feet per second can break skin, while 200 feet per second can penetrate a human skull. That’s what happened to 4-year-old Marquel, who was sitting next to his mother in an Atlanta church for New Year’s Eve services.

IMPD respects Hoosiers’ Second Amendment rights, Foley said, but says people must handle firearms safely so others don’t get hurt.

While it may be hard to distinguish gunfire from fireworks during the Fourth of July weekend, Foley said, anyone who sees someone firing a gun in the air should immediately call police.

The simple advice he offers to those thinking of shooting their gun in the air on the Fourth of July?

“Don’t do it. It’s illegal.”

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Holiday comes in the wake of last year’s mass shooting

Fourth of July 2026 follows a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis on July 5, 2025 that happened hours after thousands gathered for a fireworks show. Two teenagers died and five other people were injured in the shooting. Police arrested at least 11 individuals throughout the night for charges ranging from weapons possession, criminal recklessness and battery.

“Reckless or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated” during Indianapolis holiday festivities, Deputy Chief Matthew Thomas said.

Foley said there will be a “very strong public safety presence downtown” over the weekend. Officers will patrol on foot, bikes and undercover, using safety cameras and drones to monitor what’s happening in the city.

“We will not allow the actions of a few individuals to negatively impact the experience of thousands of families,” Thomas said.

Mia Thurow is the breaking news and criminal justice reporting intern for the Indianapolis Star. She can be reached at mthurow@gannett.com.