Lockhart Police receive 40+ calls of shots fired since start of year

LOCKHART, Texas (KXAN) --- The Lockhart Police Department said its emergency dispatchers received more than 40 calls reporting unlawful discharge of firearms in residential areas since the start of this year.

"They could be a number of things, celebratory gunfire," said Lockhart Police Chief Gary Williamson. "It could be somebody trying to intimidate somebody else. Just somebody with too much time on their hands."

Williamson said dispatchers are receiving these calls between Thursday to Sunday in the evening. He said the vast majority of the calls are primarily located in the north central part of town.

"You shoot that bullet and it's going somewhere. Whether it's in the ground, up in the air, hit someone's house or car or a person themselves."

Lockhart Police Chief Gary Williamson

The police department said it wanted to remind people about the dangers, because falling bullets can cause injuries, or even death.

The main points the department wanted people to know are:

• Incidents can be reported anonymously to the non-emergency line: 512-398-4401
• Residents should call 911 if they are witnessing someone actively shooting at a person, vehicle, or house
• The illegal discharge of firearms is a Class B misdemeanor under Texas Penal Code 42.01
• Penalties include up to 180 days in jail and/or up to a $2,000 fine

When LPD receives a call, the department plans to send officers to the neighborhood where the call came from and conduct "knock and talks" to educate people on this.

Williamson noted that if someone hears shots, try to give the dispatcher as much info as possible while still saying safe.

"If you see a vehicle, try to get the make, model, color," Williamson said. "If you could get a license plate, that's even better."