Celebrate the 4th of July Safely and Responsibly

When:
Friday
July 1, 2005
2:00 p.m.

Where:
Los Angeles County Fire Headquarters
1320 North Eastern Avenue
Los Angeles, 90063

Who:
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton
Los Angeles Police Assistant Chief George Gascon
Los Angeles City Fire Chief William Bamattre
Los Angeles County Sheriff Leroy Baca
Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman

Why:
The Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles City Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department have joined in partnership to promote the safe celebration of our Country’s Independence Day.

In past years, people in the City and County of Los Angeles, have engaged in the extremely dangerous practice of discharging firearms into the air to celebrate America’s Independence Day. As a result, there are tragic stories about people who were seriously injured or killed when randomly fired bullets returned to the earth.

On July 4, 1999, Brian Perez was celebrating the holiday with family and friends, when a bullet fired aimlessly into the sky struck him in the head. The following day Brian died from his injuries. He was only nine years old.

Indiscriminate gunfire will not be tolerated in the City/County of Los Angeles. Discharging a firearm into the air is a felony, punishable by one year in state prison. Anyone arrested for this crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Should a stray bullet kill someone, the shooter will be arrested and charged with murder.

In addition, the men and women of the LAPD support the Los Angeles City and County Fire Departments and oppose the dangerous use of illegal fireworks. We encourage our community to enjoy a professionally organized pyrotechnics fireworks show and to celebrate the 4th of July safely and responsibly.