A San Jose resident is recovering after he was hit by a bullet on the Fourth of July.
Richard (last name withheld) said he was in his backyard when fireworks were going off. But at the same time people in the area were also firing bullets in the air, and thatβs how one hit him.
βAll of a sudden something exploded I lost my hearing and there was major ringing in my ear,β he said. βI fell to the ground and then I touched it, and I realized I was bleeding pretty bad.β
He said he thought he was initially hit by a bottle rocket, but soon realized it was bullet this hit his ear.
Police arrived on scene and transported him to Valley Medical Center.
Going forward, Richard plans on celebrating Independence Day indoors as to not take βany chances.β He added he may need reconstructive surgery and isnβt sure if he suffered permanent hearing loss.
The San Jose Police Department is actively investigating the incident.
Get a weekly recap of the latest San Francisco Bay Area housing news. Sign up for NBC Bay Areaβs Housing Deconstructed newsletter.