By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

A 17-year-old rural Hillsboro boy faces charges for allegedly peppering a parked vehicle with paintballs Jan. 27 in the 500 block of E. A St. in Hillsboro.

A second teenage boy operated a pickup truck used in the drive-by.

“It was probably just a prank,” Police Chief Dan Kinning said Monday. “But they were targeting a specific vehicle. A witness saw it happen and turned them in.”

Officer Steven Janzen investigated the case and tracked down the teens.

The shooter informed Janzen of a third person in the vehicle who allegedly also fired shots, but he told Janzen he didn’t know the individual’s name.

Janzen also discovered several other places around town speckled by paintballs, but it has yet to be determined if the splotches in question are related to the incident on E. A St.

The driver faces no charges, but the shooter face charges for discharging an air-propelled rifle.

The presence of a second shooter is unconfirmed and currently under investigation.