Vaughan teen, 14, charged with two counts of assault with weapon

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Admist a disturbing social media trend called the Orbeez Challenge — which encourages shooting strangers with water or gel beads — York Regional Police have laid charges against a 14-year-old boy in two separate assault with a weapon incidents in Vaughan.

Authorities say on May 2 around 6:35 p.m., they responded to a weapons call at a park located in the area of Sunset Ridge and Kistler St.

Once on the scene, they learned a young male allegedly fired a gel pellet gun at a group of youths, causing minor injuries to two victims.

Then two days later, on May 4, around 2:45 p.m., a group of students were walking on Shawbridge Blvd. when a black Jeep approached and a male suspect from inside the vehicle allegedly fired a gel pellet gun at the students, hitting one in the head, causing minor injuries.

Following both incidents, a search warrant was executed at the suspect’s residence and a vehicle and investigators seized evidence in connection to the offences.

The 14-year-old male from Vaughan is charged with two counts of an assault with a weapon.

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Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, or at 1800222tips.com.

Police warn shooting someone with water or gel beads can cause serious injury when fired from an air-powered gun, which are in many instances, painted to resemble real firearms, and subsequent consequences can be serious.

Authorities add when they respond to these weapons calls, they are often in the position of having to make quick decisions on whether the weapon is real, a toy or a replica.

Last Thursday, a 27-year-old man later discovered to be carrying a pellet gun was shot and killed by police.

Police had gone to a Scarborough neighbourbood after receiving several calls of a man with a rifle in the area causing five nearby schools to be placed under precautionary lockdowns.

The incident occurred days after a gunman in Texas killed 19 children and two teachers at an elementary school.