Under Investigation This still image from a parent video shows one of several persons who were shooting toy “Orbeez” guns Friday evening near the Town of Blackstone’s Wrigglesworth Sports Complex. Blackstone Police say they’ve identified those responsible and are consulting with the Town Attorney to determine if the toys fall under the Town’s ordinance, which prohibits discharge of “any firearm — including airguns, BB guns, or similar devices projecting lead or any missiles…”
TOWN NOT SURE IF ANY LAWS WERE BROKEN
Blackstone Police say they’re seeking an opinion from the Town Attorney on whether or not any charges can be filed against several juveniles, whose discharge of toy guns caused chaos at Wrigglesworth Stadium and frightened children playing ball as well as their loved ones watching.
Chief of Police Sam Murphy said some juveniles in the area recently have been “playing with toy guns that shoot Orbeez.” (An Orbeez gun, also known as a gel blaster or water pellet gun, propels small, water-absorbent beads, often referred to as “Orbeez,” at high speeds. The beads expand when soaked in water and can be loaded into the toy gun for shooting. They are similar to BB guns but shoot water beads instead of pellets.)
Murphy said officers were called at 5:45 p.m. Friday to Harris Street, where two juveniles were on the roof of an old school building with similar toy guns. Officers notified the parents, and Murphy said the parents picked-up the youths; and police advised the parents that the juveniles were trespassing.
Friday At Wrigglesworth This is another still image of subject shooting toy gun from vehicle on Harris Street during youth baseball game Friday at Wrigglesworth Sports Complex.
Murphy said that at 6:44 p.m., Lt. Tony Mayton received a call that juveniles were shooting “splat guns” between parked cars at the ballfield, “but nobody was located at that time.”
Then several minutes later, at approximately 7:00 p.m., a male subject was seen with his upper body protruding from a slow-moving vehicle, shooting what appeared to be a mock assault rifle at another juvenile who was running near the outfield fence and shooting back. The rapid popping sound of the “Blasters” caused bewilderment then brief panic. That incident was captured on video by several concerned parents, and one was able to get a license plate number of the vehice.
Chief Murphy said that information given to authorities “led to identification of all parties…The incident is still under investigation while getting opinions from the Town Attorney.”
Town ordinance prohibits discharge in town limits of “any firearm, including airguns, BB guns, or similar devices projecting lead or any missiles…”
Murphy said the toy guns used Friday may fall under that Town statute. “We’re looking for clarification on whether these are considered ‘airguns or similar devices.’”
One witness at the ballpark, long-time Rec. volunteer Blair Myers, posted on Facebook the following day: “I watched gang-like activity and drive-by shootings with pellet-like bullets hit cars and thankfully not any people. It caused chaos and some very upset parents and grandparents. It is like this kind of life is paraded in front of our babies. People, wake-up! I don’t want this kind of activity at our ballfield. We should want more for our children than to glorify this kind of gun activity…”
Mrs. Myers’ post at presstime had received 351 comments — the overwhelming majority of them supportive — along with 39 Shares and 205 reactions.
Mrs. Myers told the Courier Record that Friday’s inci- dent caused “a lot of chaos and scared kids and upset parents…I am livid and don’t plan on letting this go away.”
Several days before Friday’s incident at Wrigglesworth, police were called Tuesday afternoon, May 6th, at 5:30 p.m. to South Main Street near 4th Street, in reference to a black male in a t-shirt and blue sweatpants “possibly carrying an AK-47.” Murphy said it was a toy gun similar to the ones used Friday near the ballpark.
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