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Police warning against ‘splatter’ gun craze after pair of LaGrange teens arrested

LAGRANGE, Ga. — Police are advising parents that a new plastic gun that fires water filled pellets at high velocity can cause serious facial injuries.

“It could definitely cause damage to your eye. And if goes into your mouth, it could damage your throat or your mouth,” said LaGrange Police Lt. Mark Cavender.

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LaGrange police recently arrested two juvenile boys after they opened fire with splat guns at a public tennis clubhouse. At least two people were hit. 

Channel 2′s Tom Regan spoke with one worker who wished to remain anonymous.

“I could feel it around my face and my eyes. I was hit ten to twelves times,” said the tennis club employee.

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The man said he wasn’t seriously hurt, but says the firing pellets from a plastic gun could be risky not only to people struck by the projectiles.

“If they were messing with the wrong person, the kids themselves are going to be in danger.” the worker said.

LaGrange police are investigating several recent incidents of young people firing water pellets in public. In one case they confiscated a splat gun that had been painted black and could be easily mistaken for a real assault-style rifle.

“If someone is pointing one of those at you and you don’t know at that split second if you’re dealing with a real or fake gun, it could be tragic,” said Lt. Cavender.

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The two teens arrested, who are under age 16, are charged with reckless conduct and simple battery. Police say their mother is charged with failure to provide proper supervision of her children.

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