Three men are expected to be arrested for their role in an altercation that involved pepper spray and a non-lethal CO2 gun, otherwise known as an airsoft gun, earlier this month. The incident unfolded shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9, when two men entered a business on Wood Street where Corey Martinez, 49, of Johnston, was working and getting ready to leave for the day.

There was some past bad blood between Martinez and one of the men. According to statements made by both participants and witnesses to Bristol Police, the men began yelling at each other before they all turned more aggressive.

One of the men allegedly shot pepper spray at Martinez, and Martinez allegedly fired several shots from a non-lethal Byrna CO-2 gun that he had recently purchased “for protection.” He told officers that he was not trying to shoot anyone, just to “back them up.” One of the pellets apparently struck one of the two visitors in the chin, cutting him and causing him to bleed.

All three men fled the area before police arrived, and officers pieced the story together after the fact. By the time they tracked down Martinez, he was back home in Johnston. They issued a warrant for his arrest, and he turned himself in a week later. On Nov. 16, Martinez was charged with simple assault, firing in a compact area, and disorderly conduct.

Justin Silvia, age 35, of Warren, also turned himself in on Monday, Nov. 21, and was charged with disorderly conduct at District Court in Providence. At press time, Bristol Police had an arrest warrant pending for the third man involved in the incident.