MARION – Bond has been set for three men charged with multiple counts of Aggravated Battery in last week’s “Splat-R-Ball” shooting at students during a PE class outside at Marion Junior High School.

Eighteen-year-old Eadin S. Stewart of Johnston City, 23-year-old Ryan J. Nance of Carterville and 18-year-old Travis J. Rule of Energy have now been charged with 45 counts of aggravated battery. The three men have each been given a $1 million dollar bond.

Future court proceedings are anticipated.

Marion Police responded to the south side of Marion Junior High at 10:35 a.m. Wednesday in reference to a report of several students being struck with projectiles from an Orbeez or Air Soft type weapon from a passing vehicle. The suspect vehicle was a black Chrysler passenger four door and fled the scene on West Cherry Street.

While officers were investigating the scene and searching for the suspect vehicle, Marion Police said they received a call that a person on West Boulevard Street had just been struck by an “Orbeez Pellet” from a passing black passenger vehicle.

A short time following the West Boulevard shooting, a Marion Police officer located a black Chrysler parked at the fuel pumps at the Casey’s General Store on South Court Street. Officers approached the vehicle and observed several “Orbeez Pellets” lying on the seats and floorboards. Stewart, Nance and Rule were in the vehicle. They were taken into custody and transported to the police department for questioning.