Drive-By Paintball Attack Sends Torrance Man To The Hospital

REDONDO BEACH, CA – Police are investigating Monday a drive-by paintball attack in Torrance that left a 65-year-old man hospitalized with a serious eye injury.

The attack occurred about 9:30 p.m. Sunday in the area of 232nd Street and Juniper Avenue, according to Torrance Police Department Sgt. Ronald Harris.

Victim Michael Fejes' son, also named Michael, wrote on Facebook that his dad was attacked while taking his nightly walk. Two or three young white men pulled up in a car beside him and yelled out to him – when the victim turned to look, they shot him with a paintball gun.

"Two of the paintball pellets hit him in the eye causing severe damage," he wrote. "They heartlessly laughed and drove away."

Fejes is scheduled to undergo surgery at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center tomorrow to clear up the internal bleeding and any other damage that may have occurred, his son wrote. It's unknown how his vision will be affected or what complications may arise due to this "senseless attack," but at this time he's unable to see out of that eye and is in "incredible pain," his son wrote.

"This attack was on a 65-year old man that was going for a walk and he may now lose his vision and have other long-term consequences as a result of this 'prank,'" the Facebook post read. "The laughs that may come out of this are not worth the damage that it causes."

Anyone with information about the attack was urged to call Torrance police at (310) 618-5570. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

City News Service contributed to this post; Photos courtesy of Michael Fejes Jr.