Bullet found in Greenbelt home after New Year's gunfire

A Greenbelt resident discovered a bullet lodged in a living room wall after hearing several gunshots behind their home on New Year's Day, police said. No one was injured, but the projectile's presence inside a dwelling has rattled neighbors and raised fresh concerns about public safety in the community.

Greenbelt Police determined the shots originated from the parking lot area near 120 Westway. The department has asked anyone who may have seen or heard anything around the time of the incident to contact investigators at 301-474-7200. Authorities have not reported any arrests and continue to gather information about the incident and the trajectory of the rounds.

The incident highlights a scenario residents fear: gunfire in a shared parking area that carries far beyond its point of origin and can strike homes. Even without physical injury, finding a bullet inside a home is a vivid reminder that suburban neighborhoods like those along Westway are not immune to spillover violence. For families with small children or residents who work from home, the discovery can undermine the day-to-day sense of security.

Neighbors described hearing shots in the early hours and later learning a projectile had struck a living space. Police advice to call with tips aims to fill gaps investigators cannot see from the scene alone—eyewitness accounts, surveillance video from nearby businesses or dashcams, and precise timing can all help reconstruct what happened. Greenbelt's compact layout, with mixed residential and commercial parking zones, means that activities in one small area can have effects across several blocks.

Public safety officials have repeatedly emphasized the value of community cooperation in these cases. If you live or work near 120 Westway and have home cameras, doorbell footage, or any recollection from New Year's Day, your information could be important. Reporting small details promptly helps police focus inquiries and can prevent further risk.

For residents, the immediate steps are practical: check for unexplained holes or damage in walls or siding and consider sharing any available footage with investigators. Longer term, this episode may spur calls for more lighting, better camera coverage in shared lots, or stronger neighborhood watch coordination. As police continue their inquiry, the community will be watching what steps follow and how officials work to keep parking areas and nearby homes safer.