Posted on 04/07/2002 8:19:48 AM PDT by pa_dweller
A teenager was arrested Friday as a suspect in the shooting of a 21-year-old man after a paintball incident in Lakewood.
Michael Barttels, 16, was being held Friday in the Jefferson County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, assault and juvenile possession of a hand gun, among other charges, said police spokeswoman Stacie Oulton.
Barttels bond was set at $250,000.
Police said Barttels shot Jeremiah Witherwax, 21, in the head Monday night after Witherwax shot at Barttels with a paintball gun from a passing pickup truck in the 800 block of Oak Street.
A second juvenile may also face charges in the case, Oulton said.
Witherwax was in fair condition Friday at St. Anthony's Central Hospital.
Over a paintball gun shot?
There's a different sentiment on the original thread (see post #1). In any case, I think Mr. Witherwax will give sober consideration to any future nighttime paintball truck excursions.
Hindsight is 20/20. The more professional paintgun's look like shotguns at a glance. Especially if one is pointed at you in a non-paintball set up. The idiot was the one driving around with this thing, pointing it and shooting it at people for "fun". If it was a professional style paintball gun, these are NOT like the crap-ola ones you'll find at ToysR'Us. They're usually a 50 caliber size, and can approach muzzle velocities of a .45 caliber round. Get shot with one of those when you're not expecting it, with no protection, and the initial feeling is that you've been shot.
If he shot him while being shot at, it's justifiable self defense, and the teen should be dead from doing such a stupid ass thing.
In once sense I agree. But it was dark, and we can assume he reacted quickly. These days how can you know?
I was out walking the baby yesterday afternoon when a mini-van (obviously mom's car) full of teenage boys drove through. I watched them stop and one of them threw a liquor bottle (I think it was actually a Bacardi's cooler from the broken glass I found) down in a drainage ditch. They were stupid enough to drive back through the neighborhood so I got the plate number and called the police. I had the baby with me, so I wouldn't engage them and I'm not sure I would've anyway.
But if I'd been armed, mom would at least have to be buying some new tires this morning.
As I said, hindsight is 20/20. Point one of those at someone in a non-daylight situation, and the person you're pointing it at is armed, be prepared to get blown away. As Forrest says, stupid is as stupid does.
Your example is also a professional one, played by people willing to participate, and under control of those who know what they're doing. Don't assume that anyone who's going to drive around, shooting one of these at people for "fun" is going to follow the same rules.
However, as both a regular player of paintball and a CWP carrier, if some perp starts lobbing .68 at me on the street, and I'm not wearing a mask, I'm going to start lobbing back .40 S&W.
I guess I may have. I've got nothing against the sport as well. My concern would be the sport suffering, and watching some idiot politician try to get paintball guns "banned" as a result, instead of putting the blame where it lies, the idiots misusing the equipment for what it was intended to be used for.
A damn shame for sure. I presume this now means that if they ever find the perp idiot who did it, it's murder or manslaughter charges instead of a mere misdemeanor?
On the hopeful side, cases like this are often solved because someone who knows something can't keep their mouth shut or inadvertently blurts out a clue.
Sounds to me like the paintball shooter was hit while in the vehicle. Details are scarce but, the distance between the two parties could have been as little as six feet assuming a traffic lane right at curbside.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.