Four people shot, injured by BBs over the weekend

By Marci Laehr Tenuta
Journal Times

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 7:01 AM CDT

RACINE — Four more people were shot and injured by BBs in the city over the weekend, in what appears to be a spree of violence involving pellet guns.

According to reports from the Racine Police Department, a 30-year-old woman reported to officers Saturday that she was shot in the nose, arm and both legs late Thursday night near Albert and LaSalle streets.

The woman was treated at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St. for bruising and broken skin in the areas where she was struck.

Early Saturday morning two men were shot with BBs, allegedly by suspects driving around in a pickup truck.

Police said the first incident occurred at 12:20 a.m. at LaSalle Street and Walton Avenue. A 30-year-old man was outside when he saw a Chevy S-10 pickup drive by and heard about 12 to 15 pellet shots. He was struck three times and suffered puncture wounds to the right elbow, shoulder and his back.

While officers were finishing the report on the first BB gun shooting, they received a second call for a man shot with BBs by suspects in a pickup truck. In that case, the 22-year-old man was in the 600 block of High Street when he was struck in the right side of his head and his upper torso.

The victim told police he saw a black pickup driving toward him slowly and saw the suspect fire the BB gun at him.

On Sunday night, a 19-year-old woman told police she was shot with a BB gun in her buttocks near Marquette Street and Hamilton Avenue. Reports said she was with a friend and the suspect, when the suspect pulled out a gun.

The victim told police she thought it was a real gun, and when it was pointed at her, she ran away. While running, the woman heard several small pops and then felt pain to her buttock.

These most recent incidents of people wounded by BBs are part of an increase in such attacks. Since Aug. 6, five other people have been the victims of BB gun fire.

Many of the incidents have occurred on the northside in the areas of LaSalle Street and the Blake and Hamilton avenues.

Racine police said Monday that they do not believe it is just one group of offenders running around with BB guns and firing them at people. Although, at least some of the incidents do appear to be connected.

Anyone with information on any of the recent BB gun shootings is asked to call police at (262) 635-7700.

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