3, Including 2 Juveniles, Charged In Fall Fest Splatter Ball Shooting

EAST HAVEN, CT — Police have made arrest in connection with an incident at the September East Haven Fall Festival. At the popular event held on the Town Green, a young person ended up with a serious eye injury after having been shot with a “splatter gun,” fired from a vehicle into the crowd, East Haven Police Capt. Joseph M. Murgo said/

It was just after 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 when police working the East Haven Fall Fest detail were approached by a group of kids saying someone was possibly shooting a BB gun into the crowd, Murgo said. At the time, he said, the crowd at the festival numbered in the thousands.

East Haven Officer Paul Scelza spoke to festival-goers who said they were walking along the perimeter of the Green when a black Honda Accord with several people inside "pulled up to them shooting what they initially believed to be BB guns at them from their vehicle."

What was actually shot from the guns were splatter balls, Murgo said, adding "the ensuing chaos" caused by the people in the 1999 Honda Accord, "sent people screaming for help and running for cover behind vehicles."

Murgo explained that splatter balls are water or gel-based beads which are shot out of a splatter ball gun. These guns typically shoot at high velocity and are capable of causing injury, similar to a paintball gun.

Several people were "struck in the head and torso," Murgo said. And one person was seriously injured after being shot in the neck and eye by one of the people in the Honda. The person was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital for evaluation.

Meanwhile, cops were able to get the license plate of the Honda, and that led to the "identification of several suspects," Murgo said.

Police spoke to two juvenile suspects and 18-year-old John Arthur Raymond of Branford.

Police also located the Honda and after a search, found, "in plain view, a bag containing a gray Splatter Ball Rifle and a canister of splatter balls," Murgo said. Police seized the gun and ammunition and, Murgo said, it was later determined through the investigation that the three individuals took turns shooting approximately 300 splatter balls at several different groups of people attending the Fall Fest.

Scelza submitted arrest warrant affidavits for both juveniles and for Raymond.

Raymond, who was held on $100,000 bail, was charged with:

• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-63
• Conspiracy to Commit Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-48/53a-63
• Assault in the Second Degree, 53a-60
• Conspiracy to Commit Assault in the Second Degree, 53a-48/53a-60
• Assault in the Third Degree, 53a-61
• Conspiracy to Commit Assault in the Third Degree, 53a-48/53a-61
• Breach of Peace in the Second Degree, 53a-181

Juvenile # 1 was charged with:

• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-63
• Assault in the Third Degree, C.G.S. 53a-61
• Breach of Peace in the Second Degree, 53a-181

Juvenile # 1 was released to a parent and faced a juvenile court judge on 11/09/2022.

Juvenile # 2 was charged with:

• Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-63
• Conspiracy to Commit Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree, C.G.S. 53a-48/53a-63
• Assault in the Third Degree, C.G.S. 53a-61
• Conspiracy to Commit Assault in the Third Degree, C.G.S. 53a-48/53a-61
• Breach of Peace in the Second Degree, 53a-181

Juvenile # 2 was released to a parent and faced a juvenile court judge on 11/09/2022.