Tuscaloosa Police Provides Details on Busy Weekend of Fireworks-Related Incidents

Even though shooting fireworks within the Tuscaloosa city limits is illegal, the Tuscaloosa Police Department still responded to more than a dozen calls of firecracker-related incidents around town.

A spokeswoman for TPD issued a statement outlining "just some" of the issues officers saw over the holiday weekend. Here are the details:

INCIDENT NO. 1:

"A 9-year-old boy was in his bedroom on First Court East when a bullet came through the window and landed under his bed around 10:30 p.m. Sunday.

"He and his mother initially thought the damage was caused by fireworks, but later realized it was caused by gunfire. The bullet shattered the boy’s bedroom window and damaged the blinds and television.

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"Due to the angle, officers believe the shot was reckless and/or celebratory gunfire."

INCIDENT NO. 2:

"Around 7 p.m. Friday, a woman called to report that she was driving on 25th Avenue near First Street East and saw three juveniles shooting fireworks in the street. They shot one that struck broke the sunroof of her SUV and injured her 4-year-old daughter.

"Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue paramedics applied a bandage to treat minor burns, but she did not require hospitalization. The two older boys, between 16 and 21 years old, left in a vehicle parked alongside the road, while a younger boy, between 8 and 12, ran from the area."

INCIDENT NO. 3:

"A 21-year-old man was struck by fireworks shot by three preteens in the area of Third Avenue and 37th Street at 2:40 p.m. Monday. He was not seriously injured."

INCIDENT NO. 4:

"A resident of Short 24th Street reported that fireworks struck the rear of her house, starting a small fire that she extinguished before making the report."

INCIDENT NO. 5:

"Children threw fireworks onto a porch in Lynnwood Park where a group of adults was sitting outside. at 7:15 p.m. Monday. No one was injured."

INCIDENT NO. 6:

"Just before 7 p.m. Friday, witnesses reported that two teenagers, around 14-15 years old, were shooting fireworks at one another on 33rd Avenue.

"The back passenger side window of one man's vehicle was busted and the front window of another victim's residence was broken. The witnesses don't believe the damage was intentional, but called police for documentation."

INCIDENT NO. 7:

"Around 9 p.m. Friday, callers complained of people shooting fireworks around the area of an empty parking lot on 25th Avenue East. The fireworks were hitting the backsides of vehicles and homes along adjacent streets."

INCIDENT NO. 8:

"Just before 8 p.m. Friday, TPD's helicopter patrol officers observed juveniles throwing fireworks at vehicles at the intersection of 15th Street and Stillman Boulevard.

"Around the same time, a woman called to report that they threw several sparklers at her SUV as she was stopped at a traffic light. One of the boys apologized before running when she said she was calling police.

"Patrol officers responded and took two juveniles into custody."

INCIDENT NO. 9:

"The occupants of a Lexus shot fireworks from the car windows while in the drive-through at Cook Out on 15th Street at 1:30 a.m. Monday."

INCIDENT NO. 10:

"At 1 p.m. Monday, a caller at Elm Street Mobile Home park reported that children were shooting fireworks that had hit her residence several times."

INCIDENT NO. 11:

"Callers reported that a group of teenagers were driving in the area of Elm Street at 8:30 p.m. Monday, shooting fireworks out the windows at houses and children."

INCIDENT NO. 12:

"Children were reportedly throwing fireworks from a balcony and into the parking lot at
Running Brook Apartments just before midnight Saturday."

If any of these incidents develop, The Tuscaloosa Thread will have the details. Stay connected right here.