South City man grazed by New Year's Eve bullet at airport parking lot

David Leininger was picking up his car at the Sky Park parking lot after arriving at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on New Year's Eve after a trip to Phoenix.

It was just after midnight when he heard fireworks and then immediately felt something hit his leg.

"It really hurt," he said. "Kind of felt like I got hit in the shin with a hammer."

Thinking it was only a firework, he left to pick up his wife and baby who were waiting for him at the airport and went home without filing a report.

The next morning, he found a hole on the outside of his suitcase and noticed a big dent on his hair dryer.

He also found what appeared to be a shotgun slug.

"I mean I was super lucky," he said. "Because an inch over or slightly a different direction it goes through my leg."

Now realizing the severity of the incident, Leininger plans to file a police report with St. Anne Police.

"I don't anticipate anything coming out of it," he said. "I'm still shocked it really happened but I'm like, if it helps somebody I don't need anything from it, I'd like whoever shot it to never do that again."