Houston Man Killed by Random New Year’s Eve Bullet

A Houston man was killed by a random bullet while standing in his front yard with his wife on New Year’s Eve. The couple was in their yard watching celebratory fireworks when he was struck in the head and collapsed.

Houston Police said the stray bullet hit Javier Rivera in the head shortly after midnight Thursday night according to a report on KHOU-11. Police speculated the bullet may have been fired by someone celebrating the new year.

Rivera’s wife Erica said, “He was standing right next to me and he fell.” She described her husband as a good husband and father who was always happy.

A neighbor, Gloria Peterson described Rivera’s collapse. “All of a sudden, my grandkids saw him falling backwards and he fell down and then he didn’t move,” Patterson said. “So my grandson, who is certified to CPR, went over and started CPR and stayed with him until the ambulance came. And he never regained any movement or anything.” He died at the scene with his family watching.

Rivera was the father of three children.

“They’d come out from their home where they’d had a family gathering to see fireworks that were taking place further south of us here when she reported that her husband just fell to the ground,” said Ramon Cervantes with the Houston Police Department according to a KTRK-13 report. “She goes inside and calls for help and they find him dead here.”

Police advised they are looking for any witnesses who saw anyone firing a gun. “If people would just remember don’t shoot guns. You know once it comes up, it’s got to come down. I hope that this will be something that will help other people that will not do this in the future,” Patterson said.

“Just came out to watch the fireworks. So simple you know?” said Patterson. “I just feel so sorry for the family. My condolences to all the family. I’m so sorry it happened.”

Anyone who knows of a shooting in the area is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or the Houston Police Department’s Homicide Division at 713-308-3600.

Bob Price is a senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas and a member of the original Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX.