LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Shots fired in celebration of 2012. According to one resident, the noise on New Year's Eve sounded like a "war zone." A Little Rock woman also says a stray .45 caliber bullet came crashing down into her dining room.
Around Little Rock, police said reports of gunfire for new year's is a "common occurrence," along with fireworks calls. They said it's difficult to control because usually by the time officers arrive, the perpetrators have fled.
"Every year, New Years and even on the Fourth of July, people feel the need to go outside at midnight and shoot their guns in the air. That is a violation of the law. It will get you arrested, plus you could end up killing somebody," said Lt. Terry Hastings with Little Rock police.
Community journalist Stephen Steward submitted a recording of semi-automatic firearm around Central High.
Police warn that you need to think beyond pulling the trigger.
"If I'm here and I shoot a gun, and there's a house that's two blocks over and the bullet goes over -- bullets will arch and it can go in a house. Luckily here in Little Rock, we've not had anyone seriously injured or killed here [on New Year's]," Lt. Hastings said.
But if celebrations continue like the one New Year's night, police fear it's only a matter of time.
"But if you look around the nation there has been instances where people have been hurt by falling bullets. When you shoot a bullet up it's going to come down somewhere," Lt. Hastings added.
Around the nation this New Year's, one such injury reported. Diego Duran, 12, is in critical condition in Florida hospital after being hit by a falling bullet on New Year's Eve.
"It's a very dangerous thing to do, not something that anyone should do even out in a remote area of the state because there's always houses around," Hastings said.
He also added that if a bullet enters a home, even accidentally, it's more than just a shots fired call. It could be considered a terroristic act that could send you to prison. No one was apprehended on New Year's Eve for these violations.