7 paintball shootings reported within 24 hours in Little Village, Lawndale

A man lost his eye after one of the shootings, according to Deputy Chief Ernest Cato.

By Sam Kelly

Deputy Chief Ernest Cato speaks to reporters, during a press conference about arrests related to the uptick in paintball attacks at the 10th District Police Station, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020.

Six people were arrested Friday in connection with a string of paintball shootings in Little Village and Lawndale.

Seven different paintball attacks were reported from Thursday night to Friday night in the Chicago Police Department’s 10th District, which covers the Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods. The attacks left seven people injured, including one man who lost his eye, according to Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern.

Deputy Chief Ernest Cato said six people were arrested Friday after being found with paintball guns and assorted paraphernalia. Detectives are investigating whether those in custody carried out any of the seven latest shootings, Cato said at a news conference Friday at the 10th Police District station, 3315 Ogden Ave.

Dep. Chief Ernest Cato and 10th Dist. Cmdr. Gil Calderon @ChicagoCAPS10 announce seven paintball gun attacks within the last 24hrs. One victim lost an eye. 6 arrests / 7 victims /5 paintball guns recovered including ammunition. Area 4 Detectives are investigating. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/J2oeZR9mzy
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) October 31, 2020

Paintball shootings across the city have skyrocketed this fall, with at least 208 attacks reported in September and October — nearly five times the 42 paintball shootings reported from January to August. The bulk of those shootings have happened on the South and West Sides.

Cato did not say what he believes is driving the increase in paintball shootings, but said the trend is new to Chicago.

Some of the weapons and paintball paraphernalia recovered by police were displayed during a press conference at the 10th District Police Station on Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. — Some of the weapons and paintball paraphernalia recovered by police Friday were displayed at a press conference at the 10th District Police Station.

“It’s something that has increased, but I want to put the word out there right now: We are focused on this. We’re going to treat these paint guns like they’re regular guns, like they’re shooting real bullets, and today was a great effort by the officers in the 10th District,” Cato said.

Ahern said detectives are looking for any connections between those arrested Friday and other paintball shootings in Chicago.