Fort Lauderdale Family Warns Against Celebratory Gunfire After Tragic Incident
A Fort Lauderdale family is joining the growing chorus of voices urging people to reconsider the dangers of celebratory gunfire after a close call on New Year’s Eve and the tragic death of a local man.
Chris Dillon and his boyfriend, Angel Nunez, were enjoying a tender moment outside Dillon’s home on New Year’s Day when the unexpected and heartbreaking happened. As they shared a kiss, Nunez suddenly collapsed, leaving Dillon in a state of shock and confusion.
“I grabbed the back of his head and he grabbed the back of my head and forcefully had the most beautiful kiss, it was so beautiful, backed off, I said, ‘I love you,’ he said ‘I love you,’ and then he fell,” Dillon told NBC6. “I did not think he was dead, I did not think he was dead.”
Fort Lauderdale Police later confirmed that 50-year-old Nunez had been struck and killed by a stray bullet. Investigators clarified that the shooting did not appear to be targeted, but the origin of the bullet remains under investigation.
The loss of Nunez is a tragic reminder of the dangers of celebratory gunfire, an issue that has claimed the lives of innocent people on many occasions. Dillon voiced his frustration and concern, pointing to the senseless nature of such incidents.
“How insane is this, a 10-year-old girl, and it’s happened many times over the years,” Dillon said, referring to a similar incident in Miami-Dade County, where a 10-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet just after midnight on New Year’s Day. “Somebody has to stand up to this atrocity, innocent people, a group of people who feel it’s OK in celebration to (shoot).”
Meanwhile, in Fort Lauderdale, a family had their own terrifying encounter with stray gunfire. Mike Stokes and his family were enjoying New Year’s Eve fireworks in their backyard when they heard a distinct “shhh” followed by a “boom.” Initially thinking it was a skyrocket, the family could not identify the source of the sound in the dark.
The next morning, Stokes found the bullet near the pool, only inches from where he and his daughter had been standing. He expressed his shock and concern for the safety of his family.
“She was quite shaken by the idea that someone is that careless, that stupid, that they don’t know the rule of what comes up must go down,” Stokes said.
The incidents serve as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by celebratory gunfire, especially during New Year’s Eve and other festive celebrations. Local authorities and safety experts continue to urge the public to abandon the dangerous practice of shooting firearms into the air, as stray bullets can cause serious harm, or even death, to unsuspecting individuals.
As the investigation into the origin of the bullet that killed Nunez continues, the Fort Lauderdale family and others are hoping their experiences will help raise awareness and prevent future tragedies.
