A Texas man had a gloomy start to the new year after he was hit by a stray bullet while celebrating with friends and family.
In 2024, Frederico Perez, a father of three, was on the phone with friends and family when he was suddenly struck in the leg by a stray bullet.
“I started hearing a lot of gunshots, a lot of explosions. Fireworks and gunshots,” Perez told FOX 4.
Home surveillance video showed Perez enjoying a bonfire with friends and family when things took a turn for the worse and he was struck by a bullet.
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A Texas man was hospitalized after being hit by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve. (FOX 4 Fort Worth)
“This is where I felt the impact,” Perez said, pointing to his feet.
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“Everything changed,” Perez said after she looked down at her feet and felt a tingling sensation.
“Everything changed in a matter of seconds,” Perez told a local broadcaster. “The party is over, everything has stopped, there are no hugs.”
Frederico Perez was enjoying a bonfire with family and friends when the disaster struck. (FOX 4 Fort Worth)
In addition to the pain from the gunshot, Perez said there was blood everywhere after the incident.
Perez said she's grateful to be alive and grateful that no one else was hit.
“If it had gone a little further that way, it could have hit a little girl, and if it had gone a little further this way, it would have hit me in the head,” Perez said.
Frederico Perez is slowly recovering from being hit by a stray bullet on New Year's Eve. (FOX 4 Fort Worth)
Perez said part of the bullet was still lodged in his shin, and he was disappointed that he had to miss work because of the accident.
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“I went from joy to sadness,” he said.
Fort Worth police are investigating the incident.
