SOUTH WILLIAMSBURG — Police are investigating two recent incidents where paintballs were shot at a Jewish man and at a Jewish grocery store as possible hate crimes — bringing the number of times locals have been targeted with paintballs to five.
On June 29 around 1:47 a.m. witnesses told police that they heard a loud bang and then saw green paint hit the awning of B & B Food Market, a Jewish grocery store at 78 Lee Ave., police said. A dark colored car was seen fleeing south on Lee Avenue.
Minutes later, a 62-year-old Jewish man reported that he'd been struck in the left shoulder with a single paintball around Lee Avenue and Rutledge Avenue, police said.
Both incidents are being investigated as possible hate crimes. Police are offering up to $2,500 as a reward for information.
No one was available for comment at B & B Food Market.
JP Updates first reported the news.
In March, police investigated three incidents involving paintball gun shots as possible hate crimes, including shots at a 16-year-old boy, a 53-year-old man and a 37-year-old man.
Black cars were seen leaving the scene.
Police said they are investigating all the incidents as a pattern.
Another possible hate crime also took place on June 29 when, in an unrelated incident, a 35-year-old man struck an Hasidic Jewish man in the head with a glass bottle about 1 a.m. at Driggs Avenue and South Eighth Street, causing serious physical injury, according to police.
Officials are also investigating that incident and are offering up to a $2,500 reward for information.
Anyone with tips should call 1-800-577-8477 or reach police through the Crime Stoppers website.
