Police: Woman killed by Fourth of July ‘celebratory gunfire’

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — A 74-year-old North Carolina woman was fatally shot by “celebratory gunfire” on the Fourth of July, police said.

Durham Police Chief C.J. Davis said in a statement that “reckless behavior” led to the shooting death of Paulette Thorpe late Saturday, news outlets reported. Davis said some people “carelessly” fired guns into the air during the holiday celebration.

“Ms. Thorpe’s death reminds us that we as a community must work together to prevent these senseless acts, so that no family suffers such a tragedy ever again,” the chief said.

Thorpe died at a hospital, police said.