A Chesapeake couple got the scare of their lives when what sounded like a loud pop suddenly shattered the glass in their back door—only for deputies to discover a bullet had blasted into their home.
Fortunately, no one was standing near the door when the shot came through.
Deputies responded after a homeowner reported hearing a loud bang inside the residence.
According to the report, the couple had been sitting in their living room when they suddenly heard the noise.
The woman told deputies that the curtain covering the back door immediately fell to the floor.
Realizing something had struck the door, she told her husband to stay away from the area and call 911.
The incident occurred in the Chesapeake area along the Ohio River.
When deputies examined the back door, they found the glass had been cracked from top to bottom.
Near the upper left corner of the door was a hole consistent with a projectile passing through the glass.
While searching for whatever caused the damage, deputies lifted the fallen curtains from the kitchen floor.
As they did, they heard something hit the floor.
Shining a flashlight on the area, deputies located a brass bullet that had apparently become tangled in the curtain after passing through the door.
The bullet was collected as evidence, and investigators photographed both the damaged door and the recovered projectile.
According to the report, there are no homes directly behind the residence, leading deputies to believe the bullet likely originated from across the Ohio River in Huntington, West Virginia, or possibly from someone on a boat traveling on the river.
Investigators contacted authorities in Cabell County to determine whether any reports of gunfire had been received from the west end of Huntington around the time of the incident.
Fortunately, no one inside the home was injured.
The investigation remains ongoing.
A “Stray” Bullet Can Travel a Long Way
Many people assume bullets fired into the air simply fall harmlessly back to the ground.
In reality, bullets fired at an angle can travel more than a mile before coming down with enough force to shatter windows, penetrate walls, or seriously injure someone.
Investigators say determining exactly where a bullet originated often requires examining its trajectory, the surrounding terrain, and whether reports of gunfire were received in neighboring communities.
