ATLANTA — Police in cities across the country are trying to curb a problem, once an alternative to violence, now turning deadly in some cases.
They're being called "paintball wars."
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Here in Atlanta, the family of a 3-year-old boy who was shot and killed in the backseat of his mother's car thinks the paintball wars are partially behind his death.
It’s been one month to the day since 3-year-old T'Rhigi Diggs was killed as he slept in the backseat of his mother's car, but for his mother Roshonda Craig, “it feel like it happened yesterday.”
Looking through pictures of his short life, they smile and laugh over the things they miss most – “Him calling my name all day every day, sleeping on top of my chest, asking for juice,” she said.
PHOTOS | Mother searching for suspects after 3-year-old son shot, killed
It was Easter Sunday when Craig drove down Bouldercrest Road and Ceclia Drive. She saw a gray Dodge Charger pull up next to her moving car. Next, she saw one of the people in the vehicle pull out what she thought was a paintball gun.
Before she knew it, she heard a very real gunshot. When she turned around, T’Rhigi was bleeding. The young boy later died.
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A 15-year-old has since been charged with felony murder and aggravated assault. T'Rhigi’s parents came face to face with the boy for the first time in court Monday.
“It was very hard because he took my son's life,” she said.
PHOTOS | Saying goodbye to little T'rhigi Diggs
T'Rhigi’s parents said their son was shot over a paintball gun. It’s part of a “war” raging on the Atlanta streets.
It's a story 11Alive reported a few weeks ago. Atlanta rapper 21 Savage, seen on his social media, started the paintball war as something positive.
“He actually started the paintball war to stop gun violence, so he said put the real guns down and let's shoot paintballs.”
But, it is having deadly consequences.
In North Carolina, police believe the paintball war was tied shooting death of a 19-year-old. In Milwaukee, police have responded to 65 paintball incidents. One person there was hit in the eye. In Detroit 95 complaints, and here in the metro Atlanta, police report at least 18 complaints so far this year.
Roshonda Craig said she believes it could have been involved in her son’s death, but is not blaming the movement or 21 Savage.
“It's not like 21 Savage started the paintball to start trouble,” she said.
Instead, they are putting all blame on the young man police say killed their son.
“He took our child. He's still breathing, he's still living, and we'll never get our child back,” Roshonda said.
Still to be determined in this case is if the suspect will be charged as a juvenile or an adult. There is a hearing expected for Friday, where officials should find out more.
