Pedestrians hit by blow darts on Golden Gate BridgeAt 2:45pm a pedestrian flagged down a bicycle patrol officer to say he had been walking north when he was hit in the thigh by a long metal dart which penetrated his jeans and skin by approximately 1-2 inches.
As officers were speaking with the first victim, a second victim approached the group to say she had also been struck by a dart.
The victim was walking north on the east side foot path as well when she was struck in the knee cap by an identical dart.
Both victims were treated by paramedics and released at the scene.
The darts are made from a metal body approximately 5 inches long with one end sharpened to a fine point. The tail of the dart is topped with a white plastic cap which allows the dart to be from a blow gun.
If it's a traditional blowgun, it's a spectacular DNA sample. If it's a CO2 gun or similar, extremely difficult to track down unless they get caught with it on their person.
Years ago a guy I knew used to use a PVC pipe as a dart gun. Never aimed it at anyone, though. And for good reason. That thing could get a regular-sized nail about half an inch into high-density wood. It's be easy enough to kill someone with one.
I'd guess those darts went most of the way in, and I'd guess they hurt like hell.
The Pushcart War begins...
Darts. Amazing and sophisticated. Here in Austin, we've got just your garden variety rocks being thrown at vehicles on I-35.
Over the past 18 months, police have confirmed more than 50 incidents in which rocks or objects were thrown onto vehicles from overpasses.