Mar 21, 2006 10:34 pm US/Pacific
Reward Offered To Catch Paintball Shooter
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. (CBS) ―
What was possibly a paintball shooting prank caught a 13-year-old boy in the eye, causing what could be permanent damage, and residents of the small community are now offering a reward to capture the shooter.
Sam Applegate was playing basketball at a friend's home on March 10 in the 23000 block of Via Masala. A small black sedan was seen, but Orange County Sheriff's investigators don't have much else to help them find the shooter, who also hit two houses and a guard shack.
Sam was treated at Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center, but its possible the teen could lose his eye. He was on the court when the shooting happened.
"I guess I had the ball and I was going to shoot, and then I just heard like someone shooting and then I felt a sharp pain in my eye," Sam said at a news conference.
"My whole eye just really hurt," he said. "It's been really blurry. I can't really see. So on my good days I can see a little bit, like a little shadow but nothing really."
To help the investigation, the Coto de Caza residents raised their $3,000 reward to $5,000, in hopes that it will serve as motivation for someone to step forward with information. Coto de Caza is a guarded, gated community, Sam said, and the attacker could be a resident with ready access.
While paintball is a popular activity in the community – Sam Applegate himself got a paintball gun for Christmas – shooting paintballs is a felony, according to sheriff spokesman Jim Armomino, and the shooter could be charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
"I would urge the person or persons responsible for this act to turn themselves in so we can clear this matter thing up," Amormino said.
Anyone with information about the shooting can calll the sheriff's department at its 24-hour number at (714) 628-7170.
(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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