Wilton Man Shot Cars With Paintballs, Westport Cops Say

WESTPORT, CT — A 20-year-old Wilton man was arrested on a warrant by Westport police over the weekend, after authorities said the man fired paintballs at vehicles and people in at least three communities in December.

Nicholas Trichilo surrendered to police on Saturday, and faces the following charges:

• Second-degree breach of peace
• Second-degree reckless endangerment (2 counts)
• Third-degree criminal mischief

The investigation began on Dec. 21, when Westport police received separate complaints about cars being shot with paintballs.

First, a person who was sitting in their car in the McDonald's parking lot at 701 Post Road East, reported to police that someone shot their car with a pink paintball.

"Immediately after this complaint, a second similar complaint was reported at 940 Post Road East," wrote Westport Police Sgt. Eric Woods in a statement. "In the second complaint, a person reported that while entering his car, it was shot several times with pick paintballs. Neither incident resulted in anyone being struck, but both vehicles were struck."

Soon after the Westport complaints, Fairfield police notified Westport authorities that a person was shot with paintballs in that community.

Also in December, Trichilo and a juvenile suspect were arrested by Darien police in connection with a similar incident where a person was shot several times with paintballs while walking home from the train.

Westport police used "surveillance footage and law enforcement information sharing" to determine Trichilo was also the suspect in the Westport incidents.

After surrendering to Westport police on Saturday, Trichilo was released after posting bond on bail of $70,000, and is scheduled to appear in Stamford Superior Court on Feb. 7.