Two Central Florida teens were arrested and accused of driving around and shooting people with frozen paint balls.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday that deputies had arrested Justin Ackley, 17, and Dylan Pilcher, 18, after incidents in the area of Summerfield.
Multiple incidents of victims being struck by paint balls took place since Tuesday, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Ocala Police Department posted dashcam video stills of a car authorities say was involved in one incident on Wednesday.
“This vehicle has been involved in multiple cases of shooting frozen paint balls at citizens,” reads the post from Wednesday. “It is believed to be a silver mid 2000s Audi sedan.”
The sheriff’s office said victims in Summerfield told deputies “they heard a popping noise, and then were struck by the paint balls. The first victim was struck in the back of the head, and the water bottle she was carrying was struck as well. Responding deputies located a growing lump on the back of the first victim’s head were she was struck by the paintball. The second victim was struck in the back of the leg on her right calf. The second victim had a fresh welt that broke the skin where she had been struck by the paint ball.”
Two deputies identified Pilcher as a possible suspect as his vehicle matched the description of the vehicle used in that incident as well as the incident posted by the Ocala Police Department.
The sheriff’s office said Pilcher told deputies he picked up his friend Ackley and they drove into Belleview. Pilcher confessed to the deputies he only drove the vehicle and that Ackley did the shooting in both cases, according to the sheriff’s office press release.
Both were arrested. Ackley was charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Shooting a Missile into a Dwelling, Vehicle, Building or Aircraft. Pilcher was charged with two counts of Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon and one count of Shooting a Missile into a Dwelling, Vehicle, Building or Aircraft.
Ackley was sent to the Marion County Department of Juvenile Justice while Pilcher was transported to the Marion County Jail. As of Thursday morning, both teens were awaiting their first appearance in court.
