On the night of July 4, anyone living in the southern portion of Charlottesville’s Fifeville neighborhood was treated to several hours of fireworks. For years, different groups have set up launch points at Forest Hills Park and other key locations.
The explosions were still continuing at around 11pm when gunfire broke out on Orangedale Avenue and five people were sent to the hospital with injuries. Emergency crews struggled to get to the cul-de-sac due to a high number of people on foot.
On August 7, the Charlottesville Police Department announced the arrest of 20-year-old Anthony Maurice Hopkins, who was charged with eight counts including two counts of willful discharge of a firearm in a public place. Police Chief Michael Kochis said the investigation is continuing and there will be more arrests.
“We will not stop until justice is done for those five innocent people, five innocent people who were simply out enjoying the holiday with their families,” Kochis said.
Others in the neighborhood also want the city to consider those affected by celebratory fireworks.
Around the same time as the shooting, Louis Desobry was driving back from Staunton and had difficulty getting through 7 ½ Street because of the crowds. After speaking with many people in the wake of the incident, he started a petition to ask Charlottesville’s government to enforce existing laws.
“Fifeville does not want fireworks going off in our neighborhood,” Desobry told City Council on August 4. “It’s just been out of control for so many years, and we really want to see it stop.”
The city’s fire code states that no one is to “keep, store, use, discharge, manufacture, sell, handle or transport” fireworks in the city without written permission from the fire chief. This includes firecrackers, roman candles, or anything that can be launched “into the air to obtain visible or audible pyrotechnic effects.”
Desobry said in recent years, unsanctioned fireworks celebrations have proliferated.
“Despite the clear legal restrictions, enforcement has been inconsistent, leaving residents to contend with excessive noise, fire hazards, risk to personal safety, and property in this densely populated and historically underserved area,” Desobry said.
Edisa Fific has lived on Orangedale for 19 years and is wary of the potential for harm.
“I have a concern about my neighbors and my neighborhood because we have damaged housing, damaged cars,” Fific said.
Mayor Juandiego Wade said staff would be in touch about a response from the city regarding fireworks. On June 18, the Charlottesville Fire Department had sent out a press release reminding people about their illegality.
“Please be considerate of your neighbors,” reads the release. “Loud noises from fireworks can be especially distressing for individuals with PTSD and other sensory-related conditions.”
As of August 8, 42 people had signed a petition calling on council to actively ticket offenders and confiscate their fireworks. One person who signed the petition pleaded with the city to take into account the many pets who are traumatized by the explosive chaos.
