Two Rutgers football players, who were suspended from the team on Tuesday, were arrested by campus police after shooting three students with a paintball gun in a drive-by on Monday night, university police said.
Cornerbacks Chris Long and Malachi “Max” Melton were charged three counts of aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose after the incident, which Rutgers police said occurred on the Livingston Campus.
The players were arrested Tuesday morning, and head coach Greg Schiano suspended them before practice. Long and Melton were released from police custody on their own recognizance. They were issued summonses to appear in Middlesex County Superior Court on Nov. 4.
“On Monday, September 20, 2021, at approximately 10:00 PM, the Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) responded to the area of Livingston Campus in the township of Piscataway for the report of three student victims that were struck with paintballs discharged from a motor vehicle,” Rutgers police chief Kenneth Cop said in a statement provided to NJ Advance Media. “The three victims sustained minor injuries and declined further medical attention on scene. An investigation completed by the RUPD resulted in the arrest of two male suspects on September 21, 2021.”
One victim was hit in the right elbow at close range, according to probable cause affidavits obtained by NJ Advance Media. Another victim was hit in the left arm and lower back and the third was hit in the lower abdomen, all at close range. The first and third victims suffered bleeding as a result of the incident, according to the affidavits, while the second victim had bruising and welts.
The players were in a moving vehicle when they shot the victims, according to the affidavits.
Melton has started all three games this season and has been one of Rutgers’ best defensive players with two interceptions and a blocked punt. Long has played in all three games on special teams. Their availability for Saturday’s game at No. 19 Michigan is in doubt.
If Melton does not play against the Wolverines, it will be a significant blow to Rutgers’ secondary. His absence would leave Tre Avery and Kessawn Abraham as the team’s top corners and likely impact which defensive packages the Scarlet Knights utilize. Cornerback Patrice Rene, a North Carolina transfer, has missed the first three games of the season to injury. It is not clear if he will be ready to play this weekend.
Schiano declined comment after practice. A program spokesman said he would let his statement earlier in the day stand.
“I was informed that Chris Long and Malachi Melton were taken into police custody early this morning as a result of an incident involving a paintball gun,” Schiano said in the statement. “Both players have been suspended immediately.”
Staff reporter Katie Kausch contributed to this report
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James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com.
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com.
