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CBS2 Exclusive: Police Say Paintball Shooter Is Targeting Brooklyn Orthodox Jewish Community

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police on Monday were looking for a man who targeted the Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn with a paint ball gun, in what is suspected to be a hate crime.

As Ilana Gold reported, CBS2 obtained exclusive surveillance video of the incidents.

The problems started at 1:45 a.m. Monday, June 29, at the Bondo's 24 supermarket at Lee Avenue and Rodney Street in Williamsburg, and surveillance cameras captured the scare.

Police Say Paintball Shooter Is Targeting Brooklyn Orthodox Jewish Community

A man is seen on the surveillance video wearing black and standing outside with a group. He suddenly flinches after hearing what he thought was a gunshot.

The men look up and realize a paintball hit the awning right above them.

"I was shocked that something like this could happen," said supermarket owner Solomon Bondo.

Bondo cleaned up the green paint from the building. But the impact was so strong that it left a dent, and took away a sense of security.

"People feel safe over here, and something like this happens, they start to think that they're not safe anymore," he said, adding that he "absolutely" worries about his own safety.

"Every time something happens, you have to worry about your safety," Bondo said.

Police said the perpetrators drove off in a dark car, and five minutes later, Chaim Klein, 62, got hit with a paintball. He was walking at Lee Avenue and Rutledge Street, seven blocks away from the supermarket.

"All of the sudden, boom!" Klein said.

Klein showed CBS2 the green paint that was still on his shirt Monday. It nearly hit him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him.

The paintball attacks are especially alarming for area residents, considering that there were three similar incidents in the area in March.

Police said the incidents could be linked.

"It's unfortunate – this, in 2015, this is still happening," said Brooklyn community leader Rabbi Moshe Indig.

On Monday, green paint was also seen splattered across the sidewalk when a man and his two grandchildren got targeted walking home from synagogue.

"The only way to protect is to get them off the streets," Indig said.

People who live in the area want police to find whoever is behind the paintball attacks before someone gets seriously hurt.

Police have offered a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest.

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