The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service is considering filing charges against a young boy who shined a laser into the bridge of a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the Massachusetts coast, a spokesman said.
The incident happened around 8 p.m. Thursday on the Steamship Authority's Island Home ferry that was headed from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole.
The Coast Guard said a green laser hit a crew member in the eye.
The Coast Guard alerted the Island Home’s captain, who told passengers no one would be allowed off the boat until whoever shined the laser stepped forward. That’s when the young boy admitted to shining the laser.
The Coast Guard vessel was on a routine mission at the time that had to be aborted because of the incident.
The Coast Guard took statements from the boy and his family.
Although no one was hurt, the Coast Guard said the vessel could have been responding to a life-or-death situation.
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