By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A third teen has been arrested in connection to the case in which a landscaper was shot with a gel gun in downtown Salina on March 15 Three other cases of such shootings were reported on Saturday, March 19
On Friday, police arrested Kaleb A. Arthurs, 18, Salina, on requested charges of battery and aggravated assault, according to Salina Police Captain Gary Hanus.
The arrest is in connection to a case in which a 26-year -old Salina woman was shot in the chest with a pellet from a gel gun while she was doing some landscaping work in the 200 block of S. Santa Fe Avenue.
On Friday, police announced that two teens, a 17-year-old Salina boy and Lucas E. Burleson, 18, of Salina, had been apprehended in the case.
Police believe the incident is part of a TikTok "Orbeez Challenge" that encourages participants to use airsoft-type guns that shoot gel or water beads at pedestrians. The nationwide phenomenon has resulted in multiple injuries, including in Salina.
Hanus said that between 6:30-8:30 p.m. Saturday, three additional instances of people being shot with gel guns were reported. Two of the instances resulted in injury. Those instances include the following.
●A woman was struck in the face, resulting in a slight injury. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the YMCA, 570 YMCA Drive in Salina.
●A 22-year-old runner was shot near the intersection of S. Ohio Street and E. Crawford Street in Salina. She reported no injury.
●A 50-year-old veteran was struck in the face while sitting in a vehicle in the Sunset Plaza parking lot on W. Crawford Street in Salina. He was slightly injured.
Hanus said that people need to be aware that the TikTok challenge is dangerous and that there will be consequences for people who shoot others with gel guns. Parents particularly need to be aware of what their children are doing with gel guns, he said.