There has been a rise in the number of random paintball attacks on the streets of Los Angeles with attackers posting their ambushes social media, police have said.
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest and 77th divisions held a news conference to address the rise in paintball attacks being posted online.
Police are concerned the attacks are becoming a social media trend, with a rising number of culprits uploading footage onto the web.
Paintball guns can fire up to a speed of 200mph, leaving victims with painful welts.
Officers have warned attackers can face felony charges.
LAPD Lt. Jeff Bratcher told a news conference on Thursday: “Innocent residents were assaulted walking to schools, riding their bikes or just walking to the store.
“You can hear the suspects laughing (on the videos) as the victims cry out in pain.
“These assaults are no jokes. They’re serious crimes.”
Police displayed pictures of victims suffering injuries from the attacks, and one was covered in several red welts.
Describing one of the attacks uploaded online, Lt Bratcher said it was “a party environment inside the car".
The assailants fired paintballs at children waiting outside a school.
This year, attackers have randomly assaulted 28 people on the streets including bike riders.
Their youngest victim was a 12-year-old boy and oldest was an 80-year-old man.
There have been four instances when robbers used paintball guns, BB and pellet guns and air-soft rifles to commit robberies the South Los Angeles, Lt Griffith added.
LAPD Officials fear officers may think the culprits are holding guns and shoot them by mistake.
Lt Griffith said: “If you know anyone that has possession of these [weapons] … inform them of the danger that could occur if used irresponsibly."
