Were those pops fireworks or gunshots? Here’s how to tell the difference

The Fourth of July came early for many Chicagoans. Fireworks complaints have exploded in the last few weeks.

Through June 21, the Office of Emergency Management and Communication had fielded 7,042 complaints this year about fireworks. In the same period last year, OEMC received 842 calls.

Chicago also has seen several violent weekends in which more than 80 people were shot. Father’s Day weekend saw 104 people shot, 15 of them fatally, and 41 people were shot the following Monday.

With these events overlapping, many Chicagoans may find themselves asking how they can tell the difference between fireworks and a gunshot when they hear a “pop” in their neighborhood.

To start, pay attention to the cadence of the noise, Scott Beisner, a public-safety specialist for ShotSpotter, told the New York Times. Fireworks tend to be more sporadic, while gunshots are often evenly spaced, consistent with the time it would take someone to pull a trigger.

The loudness of the sound also can help distinguish between the two, Beisner said. Fireworks don’t always sound alike as they’re exploding. You might hear small pops followed by a larger one. Gunshots mostly sound the same.

WBEZ has audio recordings of both side-by-side to help you compare the sounds Beisner describes (listen with headphones).

And if you hear a whizzing sound followed by a pop, that’s almost always a bottle rocket.

If you think you may have heard gunshots, call 911, not 311. The city’s website explains 911 is appropriate “if the incident you are reporting is in progress and the on-site presence of a police officer is necessary to help resolve the matter.”