Paintball Culprits Assaulting Bystanders And Committing Crimes, Police Say
LAPPL News Watch
June 14, 2019
Paintball-wielding assailants have been attacking and robbing unsuspecting residents on city streets and in many instances posting the attacks on social media, Los Angeles police said.
Citywide this year, the culprits have randomly assaulted 28 people walking to stores, riding bikes and standing on street corners, police said. Victims have included a 12-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man.
The bulk of the assaults have occurred in South Los Angeles, police said at a news conference Thursday. “Innocent residents were assaulted walking to schools, riding their bikes or just walking to the store,” said LAPD Lt. Jeffrey Bratcher of the 77th Street Division.
Some shooters are recording the paintball gun assaults to post on social media, potentially inspiring others to copy their deeds. “You can hear the suspects laughing (on the videos) as the victims cry out in pain,” Bratcher said. “These assaults are no jokes. They’re serious crimes.”
The attacks can cause serious injuries. At the news conference, LAPD officials displayed photographs of victims’ bodies covered with multiple circular red welts—many larger than quarters.
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