NORTHAMPTON — Police are searching for a suspect involved in a water pellet drive-by shooting last Saturday that grazed “two or three” senior citizens, according to a witness.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., a driver took aim at a group of 14 protesters outside the Lathrop Community on Bridge Road who were out in the rain as part of Hands Off rallies that took place April 5 across the nation.

There were no serious injuries, Northampton Police said.

Responding officers deduced that the suspect may have used an Orbeez gun, which fires water-filled beads. Capt. Corey Robinson said the department has seen an uptick people using these devices, especially among juveniles.

Robinson said officers responded to the area of 39 Dogwood Lane where a male suspect allegedly fired a propellant toward several demonstrators.

“The suspect drove by several protesters and returned a short time later and stuck some type of gun out of the vehicle window and shot at the crowd, striking the RP [reporting party] who did not sustain any injury,” Robinson wrote in a statement.

The unidentified suspect is approximately 40 years old and was driving a small, blue compact vehicle, police said.

One of the victims contacted by the Gazette said that the man slowed down while driving on the opposite side of the road in front of the small crowd, lowered the window, and shot from something that looked like a small handgun.

The victim’s left index finger was grazed and resulted in swelling and a “welt” following the incident, he said. The victim still has a small scar on that finger.

“It happened so fast that we were stunned and did not take the license plate number of a dark blue, very small compact car,” he said.

According to Robinson, officers on the scene initially thought it may have been a pellet gun used. However, no pellets were found on scene and no injury consistent with being struck by a pellet was found, he said.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com.