GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- Dozens of callers flooded Gaston County's 911 center Sunday evening after many people heard what's being described as a "loud sonic boom."
The noise happened sometime around 7 p.m. and people from Mount Holly to Cherryville, and even as far north as Lincoln County, reported hearing the boom.
A woman posted on Facebook claiming her family was responsible for the noise. In her post, she said they mixed 50 pounds of tannerite and shot it causing the loud noise.
"Our intentions were pure fun [and] not to scare anyone," the woman wrote.
Neighbors confirmed the boom originated on private property near the intersection of Loray Farm Road and Miles Road.
"Just irritating," one neighbor said. "It's okay to have fun, shooting, playing in the woods. Be smart. Don't be stupid about it."
First Warn Storm Team meteorologist John Wendel said an inversion allowed the noise to travel far.
"Typically, you have warm air at the surface and colder air aloft," Wendel said. "In this case, you have a layer of warm air so the sound would go up, hit the warm air and come back down. It'll travel farther and be a little bit louder."
Gaston County Police are investigating the incident, and officers are consulting with the District Attorney to determine if criminal charges are warranted.
NBC Charlotte requested an interview with the family that publicized the Facebook post, but the family didn't respond.