Police searching for teens after boy hit in eye with paintball in Riverhead

A boy took a direct hit in the eye from a paintball while he was bike riding Thursday evening, which caused a "significant injury" — one of several paintball attacks reported over an 18-hour period in Riverhead and Wading River, Riverhead police said.

Police said four to five "late" teenagers are suspected in the assaults, which occurred at 11:58 p.m. Wednesday, 9:48 a.m. Thursday and between 5:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursday.

In the first incident, police said paintballs were shot at vehicles and a home in the Deer Run area of Wading River. Police said they received what they called a similar report of a home being targeted on Thursday morning in the Rabbit Run area of Riverhead.

Then Thursday evening, police said paintball guns were fired in Riverhead on Oakland Drive North near Doctors Path, on Riverside Drive, and on Old Country Road near Route 25 (East Main Street).

"The reported paintball shots were aimed at residences as well as a group of juveniles as they were riding their bicycles. Numerous juveniles within the group of bicycle riders were struck with paintballs," the police statement said.

The boy hit in the eye was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center for treatment, police said.

In Riverhead, the suspects may have been aiming from a black Honda sedan, perhaps a Civic or an Accord, the police said, while in Wading River, a white Honda could have been used.

Anyone who could help detectives with the investigation should call 631-727-4500, the police said.

"All calls will be kept confidential," police said.