Police say Clovis man hit by stray bullet

Clovis police believe a 42-year-old man shot in the arm while watching fireworks Saturday night was hit by a stray bullet.

Police responded around 10:30 p.m. to the 1000 block of West Street for a man injured by fireworks, records show.

Officers discovered the man was hit below his shoulder by a bullet falling in a downward trajectory.

Lt. Jim Schoeffel said it is not uncommon for police to receive calls of guns being fired in the air on holidays, including the Fourth of July. Police believe that may be what happened in this case.

“Somebody took their gun out and started shooting it to celebrate the Fourth and somebody got hit,” he said.

“There are some people in this community that think it’s appropriate to celebrate the holidays by shooting firearms into the air and not being familiar with Newton’s Law of ‘what goes up must come down,’" Schoeffel said. "Somebody got hurt.”
 
Schoeffel said the man was treated at Plains Regional Medical Center and released.

Witnesses said they did not hear a gun shot prior to the man being struck and Schoeffel said police do not believe he was an intended target.

Schoeffel said it is against the law to discharge a gun within the city limits. He said the responsible person could face charges of negligent use of a firearm and aggravated battery.

“It’s sad because I’m sure we all had family members and friends that were out watching fireworks on the Fourth, maybe having picnic or barbecue and someone decided to fire off a gun in the air,” he said.

Schoeffel said anyone with information on the shooting can call Curry County Crime Stoppers at 763-7000 and remain anonymous.