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New Bedford Teen Charged In Paintball Attack That Wounded Brockton Boy

BROCKTON (CBS) - A New Bedford teenager is accused of shooting a 12-year-old boy in the eye with a paintball gun as the boy played outside with other children.

Victor Dossantos, 18, was arraigned Thursday in Brockton District Court, on two counts of assault and battery charges related to the incident.

Dossantos was released on personal recognizance with conditions that he stay away from and have no contact with the alleged victims, according to the Plymouth County district attorney's office.

Victor Dossantos Brockton paintball
Victor Dossantos, 18, of New Bedford. (Photo: Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise)

Cody Hilts was outside playing with a couple of other kids on Ford Street in Brockton on July 9 when a car pulled up and someone shot at them. The 12-year-old didn't know what hit him.

"I thought it was a real gun and I started freaking out and ran into the house to tell my mom," he said.

brocktonboyhitbypaintball
Cody Hilts has a patch over his eye after he was hit by a paintball (WBZ-TV | Lisa Gresci)

His mother thought she heard the gunshots.

"I heard some popping noises and he came in and his eye was like, I don't even know I didn't know if it was out of his socket," Cassandra Hilts said.

The paintball hit Cody directly in the eye. He injuries included a scratched cornea, detached retina, and severe swelling. He is being treated by doctors, who will determine whether the boy needs surgery or not.

Brockton Police say they're searching for two other suspects.

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