A stray bullet punched through the ceiling of Westfield Fire Station No. 2 and landed feet from a firefighter who was getting ready for bed.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at the station on Bentley Street, Fire Chief Adrian Dillehay told ABC13. Three firefighters were inside, preparing for a 24-hour shift.
One firefighter was brushing his teeth in a bathroom when he heard a loud bang. The bullet had pierced the roof and ceiling and come to rest near him. No one was injured.
"For something like this to happen to almost affect us in a very negative way … it's traumatizing," Dillehay said.
Investigators had not determined where the bullet came from as of Sunday, Sept. 6, when ABC13 published its report. Dillehay urged residents to be responsible with firearms, warning that bullets fired into the air come back down.
The Westfield Fire Department serves the Spring area as part of Harris County's government structure. The firefighters were back on duty less than 24 hours after the incident, answering calls in the community.
What the law says
Under Texas law, firing a gun in a public place without a legitimate reason is disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine, according to a Greater Houston Area Crime Stoppers public safety document. Anyone who injures or kills someone with a stray bullet could face felony charges.
A separate provision makes it a Class A misdemeanor to recklessly fire a gun within a city of more than 100,000 residents. Westfield is an unincorporated community, and it is not clear whether that threshold applies in this area.
Lightning fire on the same block
While ABC13 was at the station Sunday preparing to interview Dillehay, lightning struck nearby and set fire to a backyard on the same block. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze. No one was hurt.
Resident Alma Vazquez said the fire broke out in her mother's backyard.
Neighbor Destiny Carrizales said she heard gunfire Saturday night and also saw the crew respond to Sunday's fire. "Look how fast they came," Carrizales told ABC13. "If something would've happened, it would've been very sad to hear about because they are the ones that come to protect us."
The Harris County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement in the unincorporated Westfield area. No update on the investigation had been released as of Tuesday, Sept. 8.
