Brookhaven business owners are joining forces to combat anunknown assailant who has shot holes into downtown business windowswith a high-powered pellet gun.

Business owners are offering a $500 reward for informationleading to the arrest of the responsible parties. Additionally, asurveillance camera will be placed downtown to monitor late nightactivity.

City officials call the crimes significant and cowardly.

“The city of Brookhaven is committed to apprehending thecriminal responsible for damaging downtown businesses and we aretaking measures to do so,” said City Prosecutor Brad Boerner.

Community efforts come after recent attacks have refueled aninvestigation of the problem that officials say has been occurringfor some time.

“There have been five in the past two years and three in thepast three weeks,” Boerner said.

Brookhaven police officers continue their search for the unknownindividual or individuals.

“This is an ongoing investigation,” said Chief Pap Henderson.”It’s not easy. We are looking into some things that I can’t talkabout now.”

Henderson is aware of the reward money and the proposedsurveillance camera, but he did not have any details on theplans.

“Someone mentioned that, but no one sat down and discussed itwith the chief,” Henderson said.

The attacks typically occur over the weekend when businesses areclosed and traffic downtown is minimal, Boerner said.

According to city officials, firing a weapon of any kind into abusiness is a misdemeanor when no one is inside of the business.The crime becomes a felony if individuals are within thebuilding.

Both crimes carry penalties of jail time and fines.