Scammer
Banned
SALEM, Mass. -- A Salem father is facing assault charges after being accused of firing a paintball gun at three girls.
Officials said Ricky Bettencourt, 37, tried to blame his five-year-old daughter after being spotted shooting paintballs at several girls, ages 7, 9 and 11.
“I just can’t believe he heard the children and then aimed and shot. That’s what’s most upsetting,” said Patty Basiliere, a neighbor.
Basiliere lives very close to where the incident took place. Authorities said Bettencourt was firing in the woods, where the girls were playing by some rocks.
Basiliere said she saw the girls shortly after the incident.
“The little one was hurt. She had a mark on her,” said Basiliere.
Basiliere’s 12-year-old daughter said Bettencourt fired at her and his own five-year-old daughter while they were sitting together, but he was out of paintballs.
“He shot it right next to us when we were sitting there,” said Basiliere’s daughter.
According to the police report, Bettencourt told officers that it was his five-year-old that was shooting the paintballs. But when his daughter was questioned, she told police that she had told her father not to shoot at the girls.
“He admitted that he had three or four beers, so we can assume that that played a role in his decision making,” said Det. Lt. Conrad Prosniewski from the Salem Police Department.
Police said that none of the girls were actually hit, but one was splattered with paint.
That, and the fear that he allegedly put in them was enough to file charges.
“Just a very irresponsible thing to do as a man of his age,” said Det. Prosniewski.
Officials said Ricky Bettencourt, 37, tried to blame his five-year-old daughter after being spotted shooting paintballs at several girls, ages 7, 9 and 11.
“I just can’t believe he heard the children and then aimed and shot. That’s what’s most upsetting,” said Patty Basiliere, a neighbor.
Basiliere lives very close to where the incident took place. Authorities said Bettencourt was firing in the woods, where the girls were playing by some rocks.
Basiliere said she saw the girls shortly after the incident.
“The little one was hurt. She had a mark on her,” said Basiliere.
Basiliere’s 12-year-old daughter said Bettencourt fired at her and his own five-year-old daughter while they were sitting together, but he was out of paintballs.
“He shot it right next to us when we were sitting there,” said Basiliere’s daughter.
According to the police report, Bettencourt told officers that it was his five-year-old that was shooting the paintballs. But when his daughter was questioned, she told police that she had told her father not to shoot at the girls.
“He admitted that he had three or four beers, so we can assume that that played a role in his decision making,” said Det. Lt. Conrad Prosniewski from the Salem Police Department.
Police said that none of the girls were actually hit, but one was splattered with paint.
That, and the fear that he allegedly put in them was enough to file charges.
“Just a very irresponsible thing to do as a man of his age,” said Det. Prosniewski.