.
Feedback

St. Pete Yacht Club Guest Hit by Falling Bullet

The bullet lodged in the 67-year-old woman's wrist. Police said her injuries are a consequence of 'celebratory gunfire.'

Laurie Eberhardt, 67, was standing on the second-floor balcony of the St. Petersburg Yacht Club watching the fireworks from First Night St. Pete, when she felt something strike her wrist. 

She looked down and realized she was bleeding.

According to St. Petersburg Police, Eberhardt was struck by a falling bullet shot in celebration of the New Year. 

Eberhardt, according to police, was taken to Bayfront Medical Center, where a bullet was removed from her right wrist, near the base of her pinky finger.

Luckily, she did not suffer any broken bones or have serious damage to her wrist, and she subsequently was released.

Police said the bullet appeared to be a large-caliber rifle round.

No one at the Yacht Club reported seeing anyone with a gun or hearing any gunshots at the time of the shooting.

According to police, based on the victim's account, the rifle apparently was shot into the sky from some distance away.

Officers and paramedics responded to a call of a person shot at  12:08 a.m. Tuesday. 

No suspects have been identified and a location from which the gun might have been fired has not yet been determined, police said.

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from St. Pete Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Lou January 2, 2013 at 01:04 am
Another irresponsible gun lover.
Jan Lella January 2, 2013 at 11:39 am
Anyone who does not understand the laws of gravity should NOT be gun owners! If you shoot a bullet in the air ... it doesn't simply disappear, it comes down somewhere!! How stupid can people be?!?!
Donna January 2, 2013 at 04:55 pm
Responsible firearms owners DO NOT fire their weapons in the air in celebration. SPPD brass offers lip service to this problem and then ignores this problem year after year after year! Greater patrolling of areas behind McDonalds on 4th St South might decrease this situation. Neighbors in that area should be calling in the criminals firing. Everyone knows what pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop,pop pop,pop comes from!
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Speak Out  

Comment Recommend Diana Kane

Jerry Kendall April 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm
I love Kahwa coffee and the nice folks that own and run it. They have been great citizens of St.Read More Pete. If you have not tried it, you should do so.
CJ March 19, 2013 at 04:10 pm
Cap'n Crunch: ''A-hoyyyy Sea Dog!'' Sea Dog: ''Arf. Arf arf arf. Arf arf. Arf.'' Cap'n Crunch:Read More ''What did he say, Cabin Boy?'' Cabin Boy: "Why Cap'n, Sea Dog said Cap'n Crunch stays crunchy...even in an ocean of milk !!'' (I am showing my age now..that used to be my cereal when it first came out. It took a lot to replace my Sugar Frosted Flakes with Tony The Tiger...lol)