Masked Teens’ Door-Knocking Prank With Gel Bead Gun Leads to Criminal Charges

Two Delaware teenagers who sparked alarm in a New Castle County neighborhood after roaming door-to-door late at night wearing masks and tactical vests have now been charged.

Police say the incident unfolded Friday night in the Mallard Pointe community on Canvasback Drive, where concerned residents reported seeing two individuals knocking on doors while carrying what appeared to be a rifle. The unusual sight quickly unsettled neighbors, who feared the pair may have posed a threat.

Investigators later identified the suspects as a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old. According to New Castle County Police, both teenagers were charged Monday with harassment, criminal mischief, and criminal trespassing.

Authorities executed a search warrant at one of the teens’ homes on Sunday and recovered a gel bead gun, commonly known as an Orbeez gun, along with a tactical vest and a hockey-style mask believed to have been used during the incidents.

Police said the teens never made threats toward residents and determined the behavior was intended as a prank. Even so, officers noted that the realistic-looking equipment and late-night activity caused significant concern among neighbors who had no way of knowing it was meant as a joke.

The case now moves forward through the juvenile justice system, with arraignments for both teens still pending. The incident serves as another reminder that pranks involving realistic-looking weapons can quickly trigger emergency responses and lead to criminal charges.