Man runs into jail for help after being shot in the face with pepper ball bullets by cyclist

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- The El Paso County Jail was placed on a temporary lockdown Sunday after a man arrived at the facility reporting he had been shot in the head.

KRDO13 learned that man, Anthony Tipton, was actually struck in the face by a pepper ball gun during what investigators are calling a road rage incident on East Las Vegas Street.

For those who don't know, pepper-ball guns are typically used as a less-lethal alternative to real guns. They shoot little balls of pepper spray and can create a cloud of irritating powder around a target when hit.

In surveillance video obtained by KRDO13, officers are seen scouting the area near the Affordable Flags and Fireworks store on East Las Vegas Street after the incident.

Tipton says he was driving along East Las Vegas Street on his way to church when a bicyclist rode into the street, causing him to brake suddenly to avoid hitting him. A preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office confirmed that part of Tipton's story.

He says the cyclist then approached the passenger side of his truck.

“He reached in through the passenger window right there,” Tipton said. “And his hand was right about here when he shot me in the face twice. I thought I was shot. I thought I might die.” Tipton said the weapon was small and that he only saw the end of the barrel before the projectiles hit his face.

Following the shooting, Tipton drove to the El Paso County Jail to seek medical attention.

Tipton told KRDO13 that officers immediately called 911 and he was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance. He described the physical sensation of the pepper powder on his face.

“My whole face and mouth and lips, and tongue even, was just burning,” Tipton said.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office (EPSO) says the suspect is a white man with a beard and glasses, around 50-years-old. Anyone with information is asked to contact EPSO.

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.