Durham police crack down on ‘celebratory gunfire’ after two women died

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) — Some of the loud bangs people hear throughout this Fourth of July weekend might not be fireworks.

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The Durham Police Department said that people participate in “celebratory gunfire” every year, posing a major threat to the community.

Paulette Thorpe, 74, was killed by a stray bullet in Durham on Independence Day in 2020.

“There’s two things you learn when you’re a youth,” Thorpe’s nephew Carlos Lyons said. “You learn right from wrong, and you learn what goes up must come down. So whoever shot the bullet, they didn’t care about either of those things.”

The next year, “celebratory gunfire” killed 73-year-old Delores Burwell on New Year’s Eve.

“It’s best to just shoot fireworks instead of firearms,” Burwell’s granddaughter Tyeshia Walters said. “Because my grandmother, we lost a very great woman through gun violence, somebody’s stupidity shooting in the air. Regardless of where you shoot that gun in the air, the bullet has to come down.”

Now, police are reminding people of the dangers and consequences of shooting guns into the air. Investigators said a large portion of Durham’s gunfire calls occur on or around major holidays.

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“It’s going to have an impact on the family and friends of anybody that’s struck or hurt or killed by the gunfire, and now that holiday is marred forever by that one moment in time,” DPD Captain Randall Packard said.

Durham police are telling the public to find cover if they hear shots and call 911 if they see someone participating in “celebratory gunfire.”

“There’s still property damage, and now kids are going to be in fear because people are shooting outside, so they can’t be outside and enjoy the holiday, or their house gets struck or their car gets struck,” Packard said. “It’s going to create a fear and just an unnecessary sense of fear and danger in the community that just doesn’t need to be there.”

Anyone in Durham who is caught firing a gun into the air could be charged with a class 3 misdemeanor and face a fine of up to $500.

“Just please, my advice is please do not shoot any guns,” Walters said. “That’s my advice. Please, no guns. No guns at all.”

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