The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about the dangers of celebratory gunfire as South Florida prepares to ring in the new year.
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz joined deputies to deliver the message, urging residents to celebrate responsibly and keep their communities safe during the holiday season.
“I’m here to talk about the serious issue that’s killed too many in our community—celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve,” Cordero-Stutz said.
Authorities said the warning is rooted in real tragedy. Cordero-Stutz referenced the death of 10-year-old Yaneliz Munguia, who was killed by celebratory gunfire while she and her family were celebrating New Year’s Eve at the end of 2024 in northwest Miami-Dade.
“We have felt this pain here at home, during the most recent New Year’s Eve celebration,” she said. “Yaneliz Munguia, a little girl of 10 years of age, lost her life in Northwest Miami-Dade.”
Cordero-Stutz said the sheriff’s office will increase patrols and enforcement during the holiday period to deter reckless behavior.
“We will have high-visibility patrols, we will use all available technology to detect gunfire and respond immediately,” she said.
The sheriff emphasized that firing a weapon into the air is a criminal offense and carries serious consequences.
“It is a crime to discharge a weapon in public,” Cordero-Stutz said. “It obviously will matter, the situation, the totality of the situation, how it occurs, but they can be facing anything from fines to time in jail.”
She also urged residents to act quickly if they witness celebratory gunfire.
“If at all possible, get under cover. ’Cause that’s a first—what goes up must come down,” she said. “If you see or hear someone firing into the air, call us. Dial 911. Do not wait, do not assume someone else is going to report it. Lives are at stake.”
According to the sheriff, a bullet fired into the air can travel up to three miles in any direction, far enough to cross city and county lines before coming back down.
