Thousands of people ran for it when they hear what they thought were gunshots at the Global Citizen Festival on the Great Lawn in Central Park.

Loud booms caused by fireworks tend to have cracking, hissing or whistling noises, along with sporadic overlapping sounds.

Gunshot noise ranges from 120 to 190 dB, depending on the firearm. Sustained exposure to 90 dB or more leads to hearing loss. Even brief exposure to 140 dB can cause permanent damage.

Go on any Kansas City social media during the week of the Fourth of July, and you'll see this question over and over again. "Was that loud pop a firework or a gunshot?" The ubiquitous query has ...