News

From Christmas to New Year’s: tracking fireworks and gunfire in Richmond

Soren Hemmila

Jan 2, 2025 — 2 min read

File photo: Fireworks over Richmond in 2023

To keep you up-to-date on firework and celebratory gunfire issues in the city and your neighborhood, The Grandview Independent has created an interactive map of calls for service regarding fireworks and gunshots, organized by Richmond City Council Districts.

From Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, to New Year’s Day, January 1, 2025, the Richmond Police Department received 47 calls for service reporting fireworks and 51 reports of gunfire.

Firework calls increased by 10 compared to last year’s 37 during the same end-of-year period in 2023.

This year, RPD received 51 reports of gunshots, 35 of which were detected by the city’s gunfire detection system, ShotSpotter. The remainder were reported through 911 or the non-emergency number. This year’s figures almost exactly match last year’s 50 reports and 34 ShotSpotter activations.

Ahead of New Year's Eve, residents were preparing for illegal fireworks and celebratory gunfire.

Richmond police urged residents to avoid starting 2025 with a trip to jail by steering clear of illegal and dangerous activities, including fireworks and celebratory gunfire.

“Fireworks are both illegal and hazardous,” police posted on social media. Additional officers were reportedly on patrol on the streets. Individuals caught possessing or using fireworks may face citations with fines up to $2,000 or even arrest.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. 

If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting local journalism with a Grandview Independent subscription. Here are our monthly and annual subscription plans.
Copyright © 2025 Grandview Independent, all rights reserved.

Council to try again to give themselves 80 percent pay raise

The Richmond City Council will once again attempt to increase its pay by 80 percent at its January 7 meeting. The council previously floated the idea in February 2024. According to a staff report, Richmond’s elected officials have not received a cost-of-living increase since 2007. The proposed increase will

Richmond’s Burrito Trail brings big flavors to the City of Pride and Purpose

For Burrito Enthusiasts, the Mission District in San Francisco is hallowed ground, the birthplace of the Mission-Style Burrito. Meanwhile, Richmond has emerged as a not-so-surprising contender in the burrito game. How do they stack up? We braved The Richmond Burrito Trail, eating nearly 40 burritos to find out. Recently, we

Richmond rocks in the New Year

Richmond was alive with bustle Tuesday evening as 2024 drew to a close. Locals headed out to mingle and share good cheer at eateries, bars, and clubs, waiting expectantly for the arrival of the new year. In the North and East neighborhood, “Richmond’s Best” winner, the Factory Bar, offered

Shooting reported at Bella Vista, victim expected to survive

Police are investigating a shooting that occurred Friday afternoon in the 3400 block of Richmond Parkway. Officers responded to the scene at 12:41 p.m. on Friday, December 27. They found a victim suffering from at least one gunshot wound, according to Lynnelle Sanchez, Public Information Officer for the

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible.

Read more

Council to try again to give themselves 80 percent pay raise

Richmond’s Burrito Trail brings big flavors to the City of Pride and Purpose

Richmond rocks in the New Year

Shooting reported at Bella Vista, victim expected to survive

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. 