This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
11/17/2022 10:51 AMEast Haven Police have made an arrest in connection to a Sept. 10 incident where a juvenile attending the East Haven Fall Festival sustained a serious eye injury after being shot with a “splatter gun.”
According to a press release issued by the East Haven Police Department (EHPD), at 9:37 p.m. on Sept. 10, a group of juveniles approached officers to report that someone was possibly shooting a BB gun into the crowd at the annual festival. At the time of the incident, police estimate that several thousand people were in attendance.
East Haven Police have made an arrest in connection to a Sept. 10 incident where a juvenile attending the East Haven Fall Festival sustained a serious eye injury after being shot with a “splatter gun.”
According to a press release issued by the East Haven Police Department (EHPD), at 9:37 p.m. on Sept. 10, a group of juveniles approached officers to report that someone was possibly shooting a BB gun into the crowd at the annual festival. At the time of the incident, police estimate that several thousand people were in attendance.
Officer Paul Scelza spoke with several witnesses who said they were walking along the perimeter of the Town Green during the event when several people in a black Honda Accord pulled up alongside them and began shooting what they initially believed to be BB guns. Festival attendees fled the immediate area, seeking cover behind nearby vehicles, according to the release.
The recovered projectiles were later determined to be what police called "splatter balls," water- or gel-based beads that are shot from a splatter ball gun. According to police, splatter ball guns typically shoot at a high velocity and are capable of causing injuries similar to that of a paintball gun.
Several people were struck in the head and torso during the incident, and one victim suffered a serious injury after being shot in the neck and eye. He was later transported to Yale New Haven Hospital for evaluation.
Following a canvas of witnesses, police obtained the license plate number for the Honda, which led police to identify several suspects. According to the press release, police identified John Arthur Raymond, 18, as one of the occupants of the vehicle.
When police searched the suspect vehicle, they discovered, in plain view, a bag containing a gray splatter ball rifle and a canister of splatter balls. Both items were seized by police.
According to police, a subsequent investigation uncovered that three individuals took turns firing approximately 300 splatter balls at different groups at the Fall Festival.
Scelza submitted an arrest warrant affidavit for both juveniles and Raymond. Raymond was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment in the first degree, assault in the second degree, conspiracy to commit assault in the second degree, assault in the third degree, conspiracy to commit assault in the third degree, and breach of peace in the second degree. He was held on a $100,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 10.
One juvenile suspect was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, assault in the third degree, and breach of peace in the second degree.
The second juvenile suspect was charged with reckless endangerment in the first degree, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment in the first degree, assault in the third degree, conspiracy to commit assault in the third degree, and breach of peace in the second degree.
Both juveniles were released to a parent and scheduled to face a juvenile court judge on Nov. 9.