Illegal DC paintball battles take place on city streets

WASHINGTON - Paintball wars in the District - that is trending online right now as videos show dozens of people shooting at each other with paintball guns on the streets in Southeast D.C.

City leaders said the problem is not only is it illegal, but it is also dangerous to be around.

The video itself is like something out of the video game "Call of Duty." It looks like actual warfare being waged on the streets and it is happening in areas near Benning Terrace. You can see about a dozen of older guys shooting from the roofs of a complex. And if you look closely, at one point, it looks like they are even shooting from the sunroofs of their cars.

Some neighbors we spoke with there said it is not a problem for them. They said they are a family-friendly community, everybody knows everybody and everyone is out there just having fun.

"It's just a fun thing to do," said one resident. "And guess what, this is our family. All of this right here, public housing, this is family. So we are all together. So whoever gave that call, whoever gave that call, I don't know why. But this is what we do. This is a family thing."

Carrying an air rifle, blow gun or any similar type of gun outside in public in D.C. is against the law. ANC commissioner Paul Trantham said that not only does this type of activity need to stop, but those behind it need to be held accountable because people are also now getting hurt.

"With holding a rifle, we already are experiencing a lot of people with guns and officers shooting at individuals, whether it is a play gun or a real gun, and that poses danger and you are destroying property," said Trantham.

Going forward, Trantham said he is going to meet with other commissioners about this as well as police to help in their investigation.

If you have any video, pictures or information about the people involved in these paintball wars, you are asked to call D.C. police.