2 charged in paintball shooting

Two men accused of firing paintballs into Route 31 traffic were arrested after striking the ear of a driver who had his window rolled down, police said Monday.

The driver was not seriously injured but told police he initially believed he had been shot in the head with a bullet because of the "immediate pain he felt and the sensation of liquid flowing from his ear," according to a Kane County sheriff's report.

The incident was among several shootings reported by motorists shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday in the area of Route 31 and Bluff Drive in St. Charles Township. Police said they responded to find a makeshift paintball range in a backyard on the 5N100 block of nearby Meadow Drive.

Charged each with battery and criminal property damage were Blake C. Falls, 24, of St. Charles, and Justin J. Kolaites, 27, of Elburn. The men initially denied involvement but later admitted to shooting at vehicles from Falls' backyard, saying they didn't mean to hurt anyone, according to police.

Authorities said the paintball gun used was a Tippmann 98 Custom. The semiautomatic weapon has a range of more than 150 feet, according to the manufacturer's Web site.