2 People Injured By Celebratory New Year's Gunfire

SAN LEANDRO, CA — Two people were struck by celebratory gunfire after midnight on New Year's day. A man in San Leandro received a minor injury, while a 6-year-old girl in Oakland is hospitalized in stable condition, according to police in their respective cities. Both were in the backyards of homes when they were hit.

The girl was playing in the back yard of her home in the 9600 block of Thermal Street in East Oakland sometime before 2 a.m. when she was hit by a stray bullet, according to a police investigation, Officer Johnna Watson said.

A family member took the child to the hospital and she was treated and then transferred to UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland, according to Watson.

"Due to the injury to the child and evidence observed at the scene, at this time it is believed the child was struck by celebratory gunfire," Watson said in an email.

In San Leandro, a 28-year-old Mexican tourist was struck in the hand just 12 minutes into New Year's Day at a party on East 14th Street near the border with Oakland.

Police said the tourist told them that he was in the backyard of the home when he felt something hit his hand. When he looked down a 9 mm bullet was on the ground. The bullet caused an abrasion that required medical care but did not enter his hand. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Officers went to the home to investigate and collected the bullet for their investigation.

"I just don't think people realized the dangers and ramifications when choosing to celebrate the New Year with gunfire," said San Leandro Police Lieutenant Isaac Benabou. "We are grateful that the victim was not seriously hurt as a result of this careless act."

Police say the velocity of falling bullets can be just as powerful as when initially fired and can be deadly.

No arrests have been made in either case.

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— Patch editor Bea Karnes and Bay City News contributed to this story