Paintball spree hits 9

Bystanders were shot Tuesday night on York’s streets. Two 18-year-olds were arrested.

By KARA D. EBERLE Daily Record/Sunday News Thursday, December 30, 2004

“I've been shot,” Gordon McIntosh told the 911 dispatcher. “I've been shot in the eye,” he said, and then requested an ambulance and the police.

As the 54-year-old man lay on the sidewalk, he could see blood dripping from his right eye onto his jacket.

At the time, he had no idea he'd been hit with a paintball, not a bullet.

He also didn't know he was one of at least nine victims in a paintball shooting spree in York Tuesday night.

City police arrested two 18-year-olds in connection with the crime spree at about 11 p.m., soon after McIntosh was assaulted at the corner of Philadelphia and Harrison streets.

Cierra C. Johnson of the 600 block of Jessop Place and Marcus A. Phillips of the 900 block of West College Avenue were charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and unlawful carrying of a paintball gun. They were released on their own recognizance, police said.

According to police reports, the shootings began at about 6:45 p.m. when a 14-year-old girl was hit in the ear while walking in the 200 block of Franklin Way. She was treated at York Hospital and released, police said.

The girl told police she saw the paintball come from a burgundy vehicle with tinted windows.

Less than an hour later, Wayne Kriner of the 900 block of West King Street was hit in the left side of his face at Poplar and King streets, police said.

At about 8:45 p.m., Charles Shandry of the 400 block of North Beaver Street was shot five or six times while at Jefferson and Beaver streets, police said.

About a half-hour later, Justin Thrush of the 200 block of South Pine Street was shot in the first block of South George Street.

And at about 9:50 p.m., a 10-year-old child was hit while in the 200 block of North Penn Street, police said. The child told police the shot came from a maroon Honda sedan with tinted windows.

Police received another report of a paintball shooting at about 10:15 p.m. William Smith of the 100 block of East Cottage Place was hit while standing in front of his home, police said.

At about the same time, the clerk at A-Plus Sunoco in the 200 block of North Sherman Street reported a drive-by shooting, police said.

Also, a woman was hit on Edgar Street in Spring Garden Township, police reported.

York City Police Commissioner Mark Whitman said police aren't sure how many people were involved in the shootings. The investigation continues, he said.

McIntosh said he was able to give police details about the person who shot him and the car he was driving, even though he was in shock from being shot with what he thought was a bullet.

“Right away my mind said, ‘Remember everything,'” he said.

McIntosh said he had been waiting for a bus when the car pulled up and stopped nearby. The driver waved him over to the car. McIntosh said when he was about an arm's length away, he leaned toward the open window and was shot.

The car sped off.

He told police the shooter was wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt and was driving a late-model blue car with damage on the rear passenger side.

An officer later told him the description helped police with their investigation.

McIntosh was treated at Memorial Hospital. He said the doctors told him the force of the paintball ruptured blood vessels in his eye.

He went to the eye doctor on Wednesday, he said, but the doctor couldn't tell how much damage had occurred because of the swelling.

“I'm scared I'm going to lose the vision in my right eye,” he said. “This is my good eye.”

McIntosh said he hopes people realize paintball guns aren't harmless toys.

“I think,” he said, “they should be put in people's hands who are responsible.”