this message highlights some of the issues that we are asking our community to be part of the solution to prevent tragedy from occurring we have responded to incidents where gunshots are being fired into the air people do this for a number of reasons even in celebration at special events discharging a firearm in public even in celebration is illegal you should know that MPD has a duty to respond to shots being fired what whatever the reason as we would any other shots fired incident when MPD responds it is unknown to us if shots are being fired into the air or if an active shooter incident is taking place the discharge of a firearm has the potential to injure or take someone's life