A Weslaco resident is pleading for people to report celebratory gunfire after a stray bullet damaged his home.

A bullet hit solar panels on his property, costing him hundreds of dollars.

"Why does it keep happening? And I know the police can't catch these people because you almost have to be standing next to them when it happens," Weslaco resident Virgil Skinner said.

Skinner is out hundreds of dollars. A stray bullet hit the solar panels on his Weslaco home on New Year's Day. 

"And I can see a drop-off in that panel over that day period, and it was about 25 percent of the power output of the panel," Skinner said.

He installed the panels 10 years ago, and estimates it will cost around $500 to repair. Skinner now says it's a race against the clock to get a replacement quickly.

"Because the water is going to get inside of it and damage the connector's internals of the panel," Skinner said.

The area surrounding his neighborhood, near Westgate and Mile 10, has grown over the years. He worries more people means more chances of injuries.

Skinner wants gun owners to understand celebratory gunfire does more than damage homes.

"It's been going on too long and people need to understand when you shoot up in the air, it's going to come down somewhere and someone is going to get hit, eventually someone is going to get killed," Skinner said. "I don't care about the panel as much as I care about somebody's life."

He understands law enforcement faces challenges finding those firing into the air.

Skinner filed a police report about the damages and encourages everyone to think about safety around the holidays.

"Not to be just a Karen about it, but to save someone's life, potentially. If you see something, say something," Skinner said.

The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office says about 200 reports of celebratory gunfire were made during the new year; at least 10 involved property damage.

The sheriff's office said those who are caught firing weapons into the air could face criminal charges.

Watch the video above for the full story.