A New Mexico woman is warning others about the dangers of celebratory gunfire after she almost lost her life as a young child nearly 18 years ago.On July 4, 2005, Alyssa Boldin was being held by her grandmother when she was hit by a stray bullet someone fired into the night sky.”We heard what sounded like a bottle rocket whiz by, then Alyssa started screaming,” said Alyssa’s father, Richard. “We had no idea at that time what was going to happen. Were we going to lose a child.”Richard quickly drove Alyssa to the hospital. The bullet went through her head and got lodged in her left shoulder blade. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 80% of celebratory gun fire-related injuries happen to the head, feet, and shoulders.”When she got , she was given a 10% chance to live,” Richard said. “A week later, she walked out of the hospital. It’s a miracle.” Retired police commander Paul Szych said catching those who fire celebratory shots are slim to none. “It’s extremely difficult. I mean, in some cases, you’re talking about projectiles that are being fired from handguns and rifles from miles away,” Richard said. Alyssa warns others that firing a weapon into the sky can have fatal consequences. “Don’t do it. For everyone’s sake, don’t do it because your family member could be on the other end of that,” Alyssa said.
A New Mexico woman is warning others about the dangers of celebratory gunfire after she almost lost her life as a young child nearly 18 years ago.
On July 4, 2005, Alyssa Boldin was being held by her grandmother when she was hit by a stray bullet someone fired into the night sky.
“We heard what sounded like a bottle rocket whiz by, then Alyssa started screaming,” said Alyssa’s father, Richard. “We had no idea at that time what was going to happen. Were we going to lose a child.”
Richard quickly drove Alyssa to the hospital.
The bullet went through her head and got lodged in her left shoulder blade. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that 80% of celebratory gun fire-related injuries happen to the head, feet, and shoulders.
“When she got [to the hospital], she was given a 10% chance to live,” Richard said. “A week later, she walked out of the hospital. It’s a miracle.”
Retired police commander Paul Szych said catching those who fire celebratory shots are slim to none.
“It’s extremely difficult. I mean, in some cases, you’re talking about projectiles that are being fired from handguns and rifles from miles away,” Richard said.
Alyssa warns others that firing a weapon into the sky can have fatal consequences.
“Don’t do it. For everyone’s sake, don’t do it because your family member could be on the other end of that,” Alyssa said.
