Minnesota sheriff warns residents against firing warning shots after recent incidents

After a "handful" of recent incidents, the sheriff in Benton County, Minnesota is warning residents that it's a bad idea to fire a warning shot.

In a message posted to Facebook on Monday, Sheriff Troy Heck says deputies have responded to several incidents recently where homeowners have fired warning shots when they suspected a prowler was on their property, including an incident just this past weekend.

The sheriff says not only is firing warning shots potentially dangerous, but it is also illegal.

"From a safety perspective, this is an extraordinarily bad idea," the post reads. "Bullets fired at the ground can ricochet or strike unintended targets. Bullets fired into the air eventually land somewhere. From a legal perspective, firing warning shots could result in the person firing the gun receiving criminal charges."