The incident occurred in Fabian Rivera’s backyard at his home in New Orleans East. Rivera and his cousin, 10-year-old Diana Lopez, told WWL-TV that Rivera was sitting on a swing set and looking up at the fireworks the night of December 31 when the bullet hit him.

Lopez told the news outlet that he suddenly got off the swing and “came crying with blood.” She and her cousin thought a firework caused the injury until they got a closer look at it.

The New Orleans Police Department said that after police were called, Rivera was taken to a hospital. The bullet broke two of his teeth and went out his throat.

The 10-year-old described the initial pain as “terrible” but told WWL-TV he is now “feeling good.”

Lopez said if Rivera had not been looking at the sky, he could have died. The two children warned against people shooting at the sky, as they do not know where the bullets will land.

“You have to be careful not to shoot the weapons up,” Fabian told WDSU-TV. “The [bullet] could fall down, and that thing could kill someone.”

Police told the news station that while firing a gun to celebrate a holiday is common in the city, it is illegal. The department had previously made a post on social media warning people against the practice.

So far, the police department has not made any arrests, but the investigation is still ongoing. Rivera’s family told WWL-TV they are just grateful he is alive.

According to WDSU-TV, the incident involving Rivera was one of three involving guns in New Orleans that night.

Officers heard three people firing their guns on Friday night during separate traffic stops around the same time Rivera was shot. One suspect pointed a rifle at officers. Police chased them down, catching only one—a 17-year-old who is facing charges of illegal weapon use and aggravated assault on a police officer.

Another incident occurred just after midnight, when police arrested a 15-year-old for allegedly waving a handgun in the air.

Rivera was taken to a hospital, and is now recovering at home.

He was hit by the bullet at about 10 p.m., police said in a news release.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.