Police: Drunkien Salem Dad tries to pin paintball incident on his 5-year-old

[Ian David]

SALEM — A Salem father repeatedly fired a paintball gun near three girls playing in a wooded area behind their homes, then tried to blame the shooting on his 5-year-old daughter, police said.

Ricky Bettencourt, 37, of 2C Dewey Drive pleaded not guilty to three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, a paintball gun, during his arraignment yesterday in Salem District Court.

Salem police were called to the cul-de-sac Thursday evening after the three girls, ages 7, 9 and 11, told their mothers that Bettencourt had been firing the paintball gun near them while they played, according to Patrolman Deni Gaito's report.

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When police confronted Bettencourt, he said that the shooter was his daughter.

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The little girl told police she "told her dad not to shoot at the girls," according to the police report.

More:
http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1507929010/Police-Dad-pins-paintball-incident-on-his-5-year-old