HOUSTON – It's a dangerous staple of New Year's Eve celebrations. People ringing in the New Year with a bang, firing celebratory gunshots.
"A little after midnight we responded to reports of shots fired at 8400 Wilcrest," HPD Lt. Larry Crowson said.
One of those stray bullets hit a man. It's why authorities warn that bullets that go up must come down.
"The male was inside his apartment when a bullet came through the window and hit him in the arm. He was taken to the hospital, he's expected to survive," Crowson said.
Houston area police had a busy night.
Overnight Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo put this warning on Twitter: "If you get caught, you will be arrested do not discharge firearms in the city limits."
But many people fired those shots anyway. Tweet after tweet, the department outlined their arrests. One on 3900 Kashmere where three people were taken into custody and six guns recovered. Another on 1900 Melbourne where one man was arrested.
Police say this is a serious problem.
"Shows how dangerous it is for people shooting guns in the air hopefully people will learn a lesson and stop doing it," Crowson said.