BB GUN RAMPAGE: CHILD HIT IN EYE AS WEEKEND CHAOS SPREADS ACROSS CITY

What started as kids playing around turned into a full-blown headache for police—and left at least one child hurt. Over the weekend, calls flooded in from multiple neighborhoods about groups of juveniles riding around and running through streets and parks, shooting Orbeez and BB guns at people, cars, and homes. The first reports came in Friday around Summit, Grant, and Vinton, where callers said kids in a red car and a gray car were driving around shooting Orbeez. Officers checked the area but didn’t find them. By 8 p.m., things had escalated. On 17th Street, police were called after a child was shot in the eye with an Orbeez gun. Officers took a report from the victim, but no suspects were located at the time. Saturday brought more of the same. Around 5:30 p.m., a caller on Summit Street reported a group of eight or nine boys shooting at passing vehicles and hitting a woman. They were last seen heading toward Mound Park. Officers responded, but again, no arrests were made. Then Sunday hit—and it didn’t slow down. Around 1:30 p.m., a Thomas Avenue resident reported someone shot out a window in her door with a BB gun. A report was taken. By 5 p.m., callers said nearly 20 kids were running through Mound Park, shooting Orbeez at people. An hour later, things took another turn. A caller reported three males shooting at cars and people near the park. Officers spotted three juveniles at Grandview and 20th Street carrying BB guns. Dispatch confirmed multiple calls matching their description. Officers confiscated three BB guns on the spot. The juveniles claimed they weren’t shooting them and said they only had them for “protection.” While dealing with that group, more calls came in about kids still shooting Orbeez guns inside Mound Park. Officers responded again and confiscated two more guns after juveniles admitted to using them in the park. One juvenile approached officers trying to claim one of the seized guns. Police explained the impound process. Officers noted the teen had dozens—possibly hundreds—of welts from being shot, and he said someone in a car had repeatedly targeted him. As of later that evening, no parent or guardian had contacted police about the seized weapons. Around 8 p.m., yet another call came in reporting three girls dressed in black shooting Orbeez guns at people in the park. Officers checked but couldn’t find them. No serious injuries beyond the eye strike were reported, but the volume of calls paints a clear picture—this wasn’t one isolated incident. It was a weekend-long wave of reckless behavior. ⚠️ PARENTS, TAKE NOTE Orbeez and BB guns might be sold as toys—but they can absolutely cause injuries and property damage. Here’s what to keep in mind: These can injure eyes and skin — especially at close range Shooting at cars or homes can lead to criminal charges Running in groups makes it harder for police to track—but easier for things to spiral “Everyone else is doing it” is how situations like this get out of control fast If your kids have these types of guns, now’s the time to have that conversation. Because this weekend? It went way past harmless fun.

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