3 shot in overnight paintball gun attacks: police

Three people were shot by paintball guns within a three-hour span overnight Tuesday across Chicago.

The first incident happened about 10 p.m. in West Town, police said. A 34-year-old man was riding his bicycle on the street in the 1800 block of West Hubbard Street when someone in a passing red sedan fired a paintball gun at him, Chicago police said. He was struck in the arm and groin area, and refused treatment.

About a minute later in the West Loop, a man was walking his dog near Morgan Street and Monroe Street when someone inside a passing white sedan fired a paintball gun at him, striking him multiple times, police said. He also refused treatment.

The third incident happened about 1:20 a.m. in Englewood on the South Side, police said. A 61-year-old woman was standing in the 6100 block of South Ashland Avenue, when someone in a passing red SUV fired a paintball gun at her, striking her in her hand, police said. She also refused treatment.

The latest attacks follow a recent pattern of paintball shootings in Chicago.

On Oct. 1, a young man was shot with a paintball gun at a bus stop in the 6900 block of South Halsted Street, authorities said.

On Sept. 10, two men were shot by paintballs in the 700 block of South Michigan Avenue in the South Loop. A 29-year-old was shot in his eye and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition, police said. The second man was struck in the chest but not injured.