Teen hit with paintball prompts investigation by Abington police

ABINGTON, Pa. (WTXF) - Rasheed Byrd was out for a ride along Easton Road in Abington Monday night, just one day after police say a teenage boy was shot by someone with a paintball gun as he rode his bike along the same stretch of roadway in the Roslyn section of the township.

"It's stupid. I don't know what's going on in people's heads driving by, shooting people, period. That's just wrong," Byrd said.

Police say it happened mid-afternoon on Sunday along a section of Easton Road. The 13-year-old boy told investigators someone in a car rode up next to him and shot him with a paintball gun. The paintball left him with a large welt as the car sped off.

"Kids today, they just have no regard for anything. It's a scary thing for our other children who are out there," said Kim Yottey.

"I think it's awful and they need to catch the guy who did it," Elizabeth Gattling said.

Abington Police posted the incident on their Facebook page and alerted other police departments. The post attracted lots of comments on Facebook. In Newtown, a mother reported her daughter had been hit in the face with a paintball while walking in town.

Abington police say they have no further reports of paintball shootings. Just last month, Harrisburg police reported a rash of paintball incidents targeting people, cars and homes. Folks in Abington hope this one incident doesn't escalate into something more dangerous.

Police believe this was an isolated incident. They continue to investigate. Thankfully, the teenager did not suffer any serious injuries. Harrisburg police did make four arrests in the paintball incidents there.