Pepper-spray projectile

These projectiles are fired from specially designed forced compliance weapons or modified paintball guns.

PAVA is a capsaicinoid that can be synthesized for cheaper than grown peppers, although it is also found in nature.

Such effects may include:[2][3] Although generally considered less-than-lethal when properly used (targets should exclude the face, eyes, throat or spine),[4] one death has occurred when they have been fired at inappropriate areas.

In one well-publicized incident in 2004, the Boston Police Department's use of an FN 303 during a crowd control situation resulted in the fatal shooting of Victoria Snelgrove, when the projectile struck her in the eye.

[5] Also in 2004, University of California, Davis (UC Davis) police who wanted to break up a block party shot a pepperball at an unarmed student and damaged his eye—the student subsequently lost his athletic scholarship and dropped out of college.