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Police: Reported gunshot noises were likely fireworks

Residents heard at least 10 bangs in the early hours of Friday morning

A series of alarmingly loud noises that some Palo Alto residents reported to police early Friday morning, May 26, were likely fireworks, Palo Alto police Sgt. Dan Pojanamat said.

Embarcadero Media file photo.

The police department received five calls reporting possible gunshots at 3:25 a.m. One caller said they thought the bangs were from Palo Alto High School at 50 Embarcadero Road, but other callers said the sounds were from closer to downtown. One person on Twitter described the noise as a “series of explosions.”

Officers checked the area and did not locate anything amiss.

"We believe the noises were likely fireworks. No crime reports were generated, nor has any damage since been reported to us as of 10 a.m. this morning," Pojanamat said.

Some residents said on social media and by email that they heard at least 10 bangs.

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Sue Dremann
 
Sue Dremann is a veteran journalist who joined the Palo Alto Weekly in 2001. She is a breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and crime beats. Read more >>

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Police: Reported gunshot noises were likely fireworks

Residents heard at least 10 bangs in the early hours of Friday morning

by / Palo Alto Weekly

Uploaded: Fri, May 26, 2023, 1:12 pm

A series of alarmingly loud noises that some Palo Alto residents reported to police early Friday morning, May 26, were likely fireworks, Palo Alto police Sgt. Dan Pojanamat said.

The police department received five calls reporting possible gunshots at 3:25 a.m. One caller said they thought the bangs were from Palo Alto High School at 50 Embarcadero Road, but other callers said the sounds were from closer to downtown. One person on Twitter described the noise as a “series of explosions.”

Officers checked the area and did not locate anything amiss.

"We believe the noises were likely fireworks. No crime reports were generated, nor has any damage since been reported to us as of 10 a.m. this morning," Pojanamat said.

Some residents said on social media and by email that they heard at least 10 bangs.

Comments

Native to the BAY
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on May 28, 2023 at 4:05 am
Native to the BAY, Old Palo Alto
Registered user
on May 28, 2023 at 4:05 am

“Likely” is a cavern of unknowns .


Bystander
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 28, 2023 at 6:54 am
Bystander, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
Registered user
on May 28, 2023 at 6:54 am

There were a lot of bangs last night that were probably fireworks.

It is graduation season and then of course the build up to July 4. We will be getting these for the next month at least.


Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on May 28, 2023 at 12:20 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on May 28, 2023 at 12:20 pm

I never heard the bangs but I sure heard the sirens.

Did the police buy new types of sirens? These were quite different.


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