Temecula Teens Accused of Shooting 4 People With Water Bead Gun

TEMECULA, CA — Three teenagers accused of shooting several people with a water bead gun in Temecula were arrested, sheriff's officials said Sunday.

A woman was the first to report being shot at about 8 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of a business in the 29000 block of Rancho California Road, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The woman told authorities that a black hatchback sedan pulled up next to her and a passenger fired several shots from an airsoft-type gun in her direction, striking her five times and causing minor injury, sheriff's officials said.

The following day, deputies received reports that three adults had also been struck by unknown projectiles in the Harveston Lake community, again causing minor injuries.

Investigators said the shootings were random and unprovoked.

Deputies searched the area and eventually pulled over three juveniles, who were all either 16 or 17 years old, riding in a black Toyota Yaris hatchback.

Authorities searched the car and found a SplatRball gun, a fully automatic water bead gun capable of discharging 11 rounds per second at a speed of up to 210 feet per second, sheriff's officials said.

"A SplatRball gun shoots a powerful projectile that can cause significant or life-altering injury," Sgt. Michael Perez said.

The three teens were arrested and booked into Riverside County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy and negligent discharge of a pellet gun.

—City News Service