Man, 21, Shot Teen 2 Dozen Times With Paintball Gun: Authorities

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — An arrest has been made in the paintball shooting of a 14-year-old North Jersey boy who was left emotionally and physically scarred as a result of the attack, authorities announced.

Edwin I. Perez, 21, of Paterson was arrested Thursday. He was charged with aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and endangering the welfare of a child, Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia Valdes and Paterson Police Chief Troy Oswald announced in a joint press release.

Perez turned himself in to authorities Thursday morning.

Perez faces a maximum state prison sentence of 10 years on the aggravated assault charge alone.

The victim was left with several bloody welts and bruises on his body after he was shot nearly two dozen times in Paterson Monday, according to a report. The boy was shot multiple times at close range near 11th Avenue, authorities said.

The Paterson boy is "nervous" and "traumatized" following the attack, said Carolina Vasaquez, the boy's mother. She told NBC10 that her son is afraid to go back to school and is afraid that someone will attack him again.

"It's been very difficult," Vasquez told NBC10. "We've never been through a situation like this."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Edwin I. Perez, 21, of Paterson (Courtesy of Passaic County Prosecutor's Office, background image via Shutterstock)