Ohio sheriff hit in bulletproof vest by New Year's Eve celebratory gunfire, captures moment on video
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An Ohio sheriff was shooting video of New Year’s Eve celebratory gunfire when a bullet hit his cruiser, struck him in his chest and bounced off his bullet-proof vest.
It’s unclear where the round came from that struck Allen County Sheriff Matt Treglia and narrowly missed the face of one of his commanders, Major Todd Mohler, who was sitting in the driver’s seat, the Lima News reported Thursday. Treglia wasn’t hurt.
Treglia released the 30-second video in which multiple gunshots are heard followed by the sound of a bullet striking the cruiser.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATORY GUNFIRE LEAVES SEVERAL INJURED, INCLUDING CHILDREN, IN MULTIPLE STATES
“What the ‘bleep’ was that?” Treglia is heard saying, according to the paper.
“That was a ‘bleep’-ing round, or something,” Mohler responds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“It just hit me, dude,” the sheriff says.
“Are you OK?” Mohler asks.
POLICE WARN AGAINST CELEBRATORY NEW YEAR'S EVE GUNFIRE
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}They had parked in downtown Lima to record the pops caused by a large number of gunshots celebrating 2020, the paper reported.
On Friday, Treglia said pretty quickly they knew it was a round.
Sheriff Matt Treglia (Allen County Sheriff's Office)
“It took me a minute to realize we weren't being targeted,” he said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Around the nation, authorities have said at least two people died apparently from celebratory gunfire on New Year's Eve.
A 61-year-old woman ringing in the new year was killed by a stray bullet outside her Houston home. The woman's family and neighbors were shooting off fireworks when she called out that she had been shot, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
In Cleveland, authorities charged a 38-year-old man with reckless homicide after they say he fatally struck his girlfriend while he was "popping off shots" just after midnight.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Treglia’s office said in a news release Thursday that shooting any type of gun into the air was extremely dangerous and illegal.
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“Please handle any and all firearms safely and responsibly,” the news release said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Associated Press contributed to this report.