Earlier this month, Surprise police warned against firing guns in a desert area of the city. They recently arrested eight people for shooting near McMicken Dam.

Sergeant Rick Hernandez said as the area becomes more populated, police are enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for target shooting or hunting within city limits.

“They were target shooting,” said Hernandez. “They thought they were in a safe place to do so. However, they realized that they were parked right, directly next to a ‘no trespassing’ sign and a sign the city just installed that says ‘no shooting.’”

Hernandez said at least three homes near the dam were damaged by gunfire.