#North Carolina woman, 74, killed by ‘celebratory gunfire’ on July 4th

A 74-year-old North Carolina woman died after being struck by a bullet fired into the air in “celebratory gunfire” for July 4, according to reports.

Paulette Thorpe was raced to a hospital in Durham after being hit around 11 p.m. Saturday and was pronounced dead a short time later, officials told the News & Observer.

Durham Police Chief Cerelyn Davis slammed the “small few” who “chose to put our community at risk by carelessly firing guns into the air” during otherwise peaceful celebrations.

“Ms. Thorpe’s death reminds us that we as a community must work together to prevent these senseless acts, so that no family suffers such a tragedy ever again,” Davis said, according to the News & Observer.

Jones had been celebrating with friends, and it is not thought she was targeted, cops told WFXR. There were no reports of any arrests, and ABC11 said the investigation was still ongoing.