Bridgeport residents facing frozen paintball danger, Victim loses eye

BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (WABC) -- Paintball shooters in Bridgeport, Connecticut, have taken the sport to a dangerous new level -- using frozen paintballs.

With three big welts still visible on Victor Cacho's back and the paint still splattered on his clothes, he is one of the latest victims of paintball shooters.

"I didn't know if it was a real gun or something else," he said. "But lucky, you know, paint balls, frozen paint balls."

Victor Cacho showed us the welts caused by the frozen paintballs that struck him.

Cacho was leaving a bodega Monday night when suddenly two cars came around the corner and unleashed a barrage of frozen paintballs, hitting him eight times as he curled up in pain on the street.

"Here in this part," he said pointing to his head. "Then four shots in the shoulder and another four in my butt."

Bridgeport Police Chief A.J. Perez said one person lost an eye, while another suffered an eye injury in recent shootings. He wants lawmakers to make the act of freezing the paintballs a crime.

"This is not a prank," Perez said. "This is serious. If you do this in Bridgeport, you are going to get charged. We catch you, this is assault third (degree). Your intent is to hurt someone."

His department has already arrested six juveniles and confiscated seven paint ball guns.