Original Blog Entry: Teenagers with pellet guns force other boys to strip down

truesee — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:33:39 GMT

EP teens suspected of using pellet gun to bully kids

Pair of 14-year-olds allegedly forced three boys to do 'stupid, childish acts'

Leslie Williams

The Journal Star

Sep 10, 2009

06:48 PM

Two East Peoria teenagers were arrested Saturday for allegedly forcing three boys to strip down to their underwear by threatening them with pellet guns.

The victims, ages 11, 12 and 13, also were made to jump from a large rock about 10 feet off the ground, perform jumping jacks, roll around in the grass, and other stupid, childish acts, Tazewell County Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Lower said Thursday.

They were trying to terrorize the kids and humiliate them, Lower said. They were threatened they could get shot if they didn't do what they were told.

The incident was reported to police just before 10 p.m. Saturday after the victims returned home and told their parents what occurred in the wooded area behind Robein Grade School. The property is not owned by the school and is a popular hangout for children who live in the area, police said.

The teenagers, 14-year-old boys whose names were not released because they are juveniles, likely will face charges when an investigation is completed by the Tazewell County State's Attorney's Office. Until then, they have been ordered to have appointments with the county's juvenile probation office.

This wasn't just a situation where juveniles were being juveniles, said State's Attorney Stu Umholtz. It went beyond that.

Umholtz declined to release further details about the case, including a motive, because of the ongoing investigation. He also would not release what charges his office is considering filing against the teens.

None of the boys were injured during the incident. It was not available if the teens fired the weapons, described as soft-air pellet guns, during the commission of the offense.

Lower said though the pellets in the gun are plastic, they are hard enough to break skin upon contact.

They hurt, he said. You could shoot someone's eye out.

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