http://www.milforddailynews.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=77945
NORTHBRIDGE -- Police say someone went too far early Saturday by shooting a BB gun into a street-gathering of two dozen young people, striking four victims, at least two in the face.
As they search for the shooter, police say one victim was shot in the side of the face and one on the forehead, though none suffered broken skin or bleeding.
"This could have resulted in severe injuries," Lt. Walter Warchol said. "A couple inches lower, it could have hit an eye."
Many of the 20 to 25 young people gathered in the town's Rockdale section fled when officers responded about 2 a.m. after a woman alerted a cruiser, police said.
Officers rounded up 14 men and woman, ages 17 to 21, questioned them and searched for a BB gun, but came up empty, police said. The 14 people will be summoned to Uxbridge District Court on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbing the peace.
While Northbridge Police typically respond to vandalism involving BB guns, cases targeting people are rare, Warchol said.
The problem is anyone 18 years or older can buy BB guns in Massachusetts, without having to seek any permits like regular gun users, Warchol said. The weapons keep getting stronger, too, he said.
"With the strict gun laws in Massachusetts, I find it kind of surprising," he said.
NORTHBRIDGE -- Police say someone went too far early Saturday by shooting a BB gun into a street-gathering of two dozen young people, striking four victims, at least two in the face.
As they search for the shooter, police say one victim was shot in the side of the face and one on the forehead, though none suffered broken skin or bleeding.
"This could have resulted in severe injuries," Lt. Walter Warchol said. "A couple inches lower, it could have hit an eye."
Many of the 20 to 25 young people gathered in the town's Rockdale section fled when officers responded about 2 a.m. after a woman alerted a cruiser, police said.
Officers rounded up 14 men and woman, ages 17 to 21, questioned them and searched for a BB gun, but came up empty, police said. The 14 people will be summoned to Uxbridge District Court on charges of unlawful assembly and disturbing the peace.
While Northbridge Police typically respond to vandalism involving BB guns, cases targeting people are rare, Warchol said.
The problem is anyone 18 years or older can buy BB guns in Massachusetts, without having to seek any permits like regular gun users, Warchol said. The weapons keep getting stronger, too, he said.
"With the strict gun laws in Massachusetts, I find it kind of surprising," he said.
