The Indiana State Police has a message for Hoosiers thinking of adding celebratory gunfire to their upcoming Fourth of July party.

Don't.

"Shooting a gun into the air is not only reckless, it’s extremely dangerous," Indiana State Police Sgt. John Perrine said. "A bullet that is fired into the air will come back down with enough velocity to seriously injure or kill someone."

As Independence Day approaches, local police are reminding people to refrain from the dangerous practice of shooting their guns into the air as they shoot off fireworks.

Like on New Year's Day, shooting guns on July Fourth has became a tradition for some. And while celebratory gunfire deaths are uncommon, they can claim innocent lives.

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In 2017, 13-year-old Noah Inman was struck in the head by a falling bullet while playing basketball at a family Fourth of July party in Hammond, according to the Chicago Tribune.

After fighting for his life at Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago, Inman succumbed to his injuries on July 8. No one has been arrested or charged in connection to his death.

According to Forensic Outreach, a United Kingdom-based education and consulting company, a bullet fired into the air can return to the ground at speeds of up to 200 to 300 feet per second. While not the same velocity at which it was fired, it is still fast enough to pierce skin and cause fatal injury.

If caught in the act, offenders can face charges of recklessly pointing a firearm or criminal recklessness, according to Perrine.

He also stresses that a gun is a deadly weapon, and people celebrating should focus on fireworks safety without introducing the additional element of gun safety.

"Shooting fireworks into the air is dangerous enough, add into the mix someone shooting bullets into the air and you have a recipe for disaster," Perrine said. "Please keep the firearms safely locked away this Fourth of July. Be a responsible gun owner."

IndyStar reporter Holly Hays contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Justin L. Mack at 317-444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.