PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY EVAN CARAVELLI/Arizona Daily Wildcat There have been two reported incidents of students being shot at with paintballs while walking on campus in the last two weeks. UAPD considers the incidents more serious than a "college prank" as paintballs have the ability to inflict serious harm on a person not wearing suitable protection.

In what could be just a humorous college prank, students have become target practice for paintball gunmen around campus, but police say they are not taking incidents lightly.

Two students in separate incidents reported to University of Arizona Police Departments they had been hit by paintballs while walking on campus. The Tucson Police Department also received two reports last week from residents who claim two men were firing paintballs at pedestrians while driving.

One student reported a man shot paintballs at her Friday at 9:56 p.m. while she was walking on East Second Street and North Martin Avenue, reports stated.

The student told police she felt something hit her lower back and the back of her leg, reports stated.

When police arrived on the scene, they saw three large paintball marks on the student, reports stated.

The student told police two witnesses said they saw someone leave the scene in a red Jeep but police were unable to locate the witnesses for further questioning, reports stated.

During the time police were speaking with the student, TPD calls came in stating two men were firing paintballs at people from their car, UAPD reports stated.

Michelle Pickrom, TPD spokeswoman, said the first call came around 9:20 p.m. from North Country Club Drive and East Broadway Boulevard.

The caller said the person shooting the paintball gun was in a silver car, Pickrom said.

The second call came around 9:52 p.m. and the caller said someone was shooting a paintball gun at pedestrians on North Mountain Avenue and East Speedway Boulevard, Pickrom said.

The caller said the shooter was in a brown car, Pickrom said.

Pickrom said since no one reported being hit with a paintball, the calls required no further investigation.

On a different night, a student reported a man shot paintballs at her when she was walking near the Sixth Street Parking Garage, 1201 E. Sixth St., Jan. 30, UAPD reports stated.

The student saw a man with a gun so she ran inside the garage, reports stated.

The student saw a white paintball mark on the sidewalk and realized the man was shooting at her, reports stated.

She told police she did not get a good look at the shooter because his face was behind the gun, reports stated.

The student told police the paintball did not hit her and said she waited two hours to report it because she did not think the incident was a big deal, reports stated.

However, Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman, said the paintball reports are a big deal, even if the person or persons shooting the paintball guns are just playing a "college prank."

"A lot of situations that happen on campus are ones that some people think are just a prank violations, but it could be processed as a violent crime," he said.

Mejia said paintball guns have the potential to seriously injure someone and a person caught firing them on campus could be charged with assault with a weapon.

If a paintball strikes someone without proper protection, they could suffer from permanent injury or possibly death, Mejia said.

"It's not something we take lightly," he said.

Mejia said the incidents may or may not be related, reports stated.

Erique Martinez, a salesman at Paintball Headquarters, 1097 W. Prince Road, said when a person buys a paintball gun they are advised to only use it on a paintball field.

Martinez said paintballs launched from the gun travel at 280 feet per second but being hit with one feels like "someone has pinched you."

"They're very safe with little to no injury," Martinez said.

Anyone can buy a paintball gun as long as they are over the age of 18, he said.

Paintball Headquarters has a playing field and requires all participants to wear protective goggles and padding is optional, Martinez said.

Since neither of the students expected to be hit with a paintball, they were not wearing protection that paintball fields usually require.

Mejia said the two students were correct in reporting the crime to UAPD so they can collect all information about the cases.

"Sometimes people don't feel information is important, but it could be part of the puzzle that we need," Mejia said.

Mejia said when students report criminal or suspicious activity, police can narrow down information more easily and conduct a full investigation.