2 Teens Charged After Shooting Airsoft Guns Inside Tennessee Restaurant
By Sarah Tate
January 26, 2022
Police in Tennessee have arrested two teenagers in connection to an incident at a restaurant earlier this week.
According to Dyersburg Police, officers responded to the El Patio restaurant around 8 p.m. Tuesday (January 25) after individuals entered the building and began shooting customers with airsoft or SplatRBall guns. Multiple people were hit by projectiles, including an 8-year-old child who was struck in the face.
While investigating the incident, police learned that some teens in the area had recently been "battling" each other, ultimately leading to the incident Tuesday night, WKRN reports.
Dyersburg Police took to its official Facebook page on Wednesday to share surveillance footage from the restaurant of the incident in the hopes that the community recognized the individuals involved. By Wednesday afternoon, the department shared an update that two 16-year-old Dyersburg residents had been taken into custody.
**Warning: The video below contains acts of violence and could be disturbing to some viewers.
**Update** Two 16-year-old Dyersburg teens have been charged with felony aggravated assault in connection with the incident inside El Patio Restaurant. Multiple victims were hit including an 8-year-old child that was struck in the face by a projectile from the gun. Dyersburg police took both teens into custody at school this afternoon. One of the teens has an additional charge of resisting arrest. Both were transported to detention pending Dyer County Juvenile Court action. ### January 26, 2022 Dyersburg police responded to El Patio restaurant Tuesday night around 8:00 p.m., in reference to individuals entering the restaurant shooting customers with airsoft or SplatRBall guns. Multiple people were hit by the projectiles. DPD has learned that over the last few weeks, many teens have been having battles with each other, which has escalated to others being shot in the community. Tuesday night’s incident is being investigated as a criminal offense upon consulting with the District Attorney General’s Office. DPD is requesting anyone who was present during this incident, or may know the identity of the subjects involved to call 311, or 285-1212. ###
Posted by Dyersburg Police Department on Wednesday, January 26, 2022
The two teens, whose names have not been released, are charged with felony aggravated assault. One of the teens is facing an additional charge of resisting arrest.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, no other information regarding the incident, including if anyone else will be charged, has been released.