NEWARK, DE — Two juveniles are facing charges after police say a person was struck in the face with a projectile during an incident at a shopping center Thursday morning.
According to Newark Police, officers responded at approximately 11:45 a.m. to the Brookside Shopping Center in the unit block of Marrows Road after receiving a report that a victim had been hit by an unknown projectile, initially believed to be a paintball.
Police reported that responding officers obtained descriptions of two suspects, described as wearing dark clothing and ski masks, and broadcast the information to units in the area.
According to investigators, officers observed two juveniles matching the descriptions near the intersection of Marrows Road and Kimberton Drive and conducted a stop.
During the investigation, police said a gel blaster toy gun and a container of gel rounds were recovered from a backpack belonging to one of the suspects.
Police reported that the juveniles allegedly told officers they had been walking through the area when they saw the victim and decided to shoot the gel blaster. According to police, one suspect allegedly stated the reason was “just cause.”
Authorities said a 16-year-old male from Newark was charged with one count of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree reckless endangering. Police reported he was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $2,000 unsecured bail.
A 14-year-old male from Newark was charged with one count of third-degree assault, one count of second-degree reckless endangering, and one count of third-degree conspiracy. According to police, he was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released on $3,000 unsecured bail.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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