ST. LOUIS — It was just two hours into the New Year, which had started out as a wonderful 2024 for Kim Cole and her visiting family members.
"My family came in from Boston, Baltimore and Indiana. We found an Airbnb that was close to the Botanical Garden, in walking distance and close to my office, so we rented it," Cole said.
Suddenly her relatives heard a barrage of gunfire over the Airbnb where they were staying, in the 4100 block of Shaw Avenue in south St. Louis.
"They were all in bed and my sister heard it. Her kids woke up," Cole said.
Some of them went outside and couldn't believe what they saw.
"It's sad for people from out of town to see this side of St. Louis. I think St. Louis is a great city with a lot of potential," Cole said.
Kim said someone fired bullets into her husband's parked car and flattened two tires, but that's not all.
"A bullet went through the car and another bullet grazed his 2006 Audi, Cole said.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department's Real Time Crime Center said they got a call that "occupants in a sedan," rode down Shaw Avenue and randomly fired at homes.
Bullets may have also shattered several neighbors' car windows.
"It's just senseless. It's not needed. It doesn't help anyone. It just gives St. Louis a bad reputation," Cole said.
Police say a short time later they went just a few blocks away and found a short term, two-story rental home in the 4300 block of Hunt Avenue riddled with bullet holes.
They say about 200 people were inside during a New Year's Eve party.
Incredibly, no one was hurt.
A neighbor said back windows on the house were also shot out.
Police recovered at least 40 shell casings.
"This is just not good for the people who live here. I'm just thankful my whole family was inside that house on Shaw and I'm very thankful and I feel blessed that nobody was hurt," Cole said.
Police could not say exactly how many "shots fired" calls kept officers busy on New Year's Eve.
They did say their ShotsSpotter technology received so many that it stopped counting after 1,000.