ALEXANDRIA, VA - A so-called Halloween prank has turned into a criminal investigation as police continue to search for a group of three people who allegedly tried to break into a home in Alexandria on Tuesday night, October 14.
A disturbing video shows the moments when the group of three in Halloween masks tried to break into the home. The incident happened around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday near Duke and S Jordan Streets, according to WUSA9. "At first I thought it was just a Halloween joke, a little prank," said Shayla, who was visiting the targeted home her mother owns and lives in. "So I said, 'Happy Halloween.'"
But the group of three masked individuals didn't back off, even after she told them she was on the phone with 911 and police were on their way. "They kept, like, knocking on the door," she said. "The knocks would get harder and harder."
"It's either you coming out or we coming in," one voice can be heard saying on the video. Another shouted, "Open the door!" During a press conference on Thursday, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrik McGuire discussed the seriousness of the incident. "This is a very serious matter," he said. "They began to make threatening and alarming comments to the family ... specifically, they said, 'If you do not come out, we will come in,' and also threatened to do bodily harm, stating that they would ultimately kill them."
"It's not even a joke gone wrong," said Shayla. "They tried to enter the home. My heart dropped when they said they were gonna take a chair and break down the door."
Police believe the suspects may have fled in a vehicle after removing their Halloween masks. McGuire said investigators are analyzing additional video footage from nearby homes and businesses to identify the individuals involved. He said two vehicles were spotted on the road at the time of the incident.
He said that incidents like these, especially during the Halloween season, can quickly escalate. "Historically, we have seen pranks around the nation with people wearing masks, trying to mimic movie scenes or horrific films," he said. "These are serious matters because they are frightening, but most importantly, they can result in serious injury."
The alleged suspects could face charges including burglary and making criminal threats, McGuire said. "They attempted to enter a residence, and under Virginia state law, that constitutes burglary," he said. "It's a warning to people: do not go up to people's doors, make threats, advance their doorways, and play with their lives, because it ultimately can end up in a dangerous event."
The police chief also emphasized that residents have the legal right to defend themselves inside their homes, warning that future incidents could turn violent. "If you are the one who engaged in this type of behavior, we're actively searching for you," he added.
"If it were someone young, I would encourage parents to come forward. It is better to address this voluntarily than wait for us to make an arrest," the chief said. With Halloween just a few weeks away, McGuire offered a message to parents. "Know where your children are and what they're doing," he said. "Talk to them about the decisions they are making. We don't want to get police involved in something that did not derive from criminal intent, but this incident did."
A disturbing video shows the moments when the group of three in Halloween masks tried to break into the home. The incident happened around 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday near Duke and S Jordan Streets, according to WUSA9. "At first I thought it was just a Halloween joke, a little prank," said Shayla, who was visiting the targeted home her mother owns and lives in. "So I said, 'Happy Halloween.'"
But the group of three masked individuals didn't back off, even after she told them she was on the phone with 911 and police were on their way. "They kept, like, knocking on the door," she said. "The knocks would get harder and harder."
"It's either you coming out or we coming in," one voice can be heard saying on the video. Another shouted, "Open the door!" During a press conference on Thursday, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrik McGuire discussed the seriousness of the incident. "This is a very serious matter," he said. "They began to make threatening and alarming comments to the family ... specifically, they said, 'If you do not come out, we will come in,' and also threatened to do bodily harm, stating that they would ultimately kill them."
"It's not even a joke gone wrong," said Shayla. "They tried to enter the home. My heart dropped when they said they were gonna take a chair and break down the door."
Police believe the suspects may have fled in a vehicle after removing their Halloween masks. McGuire said investigators are analyzing additional video footage from nearby homes and businesses to identify the individuals involved. He said two vehicles were spotted on the road at the time of the incident.
He said that incidents like these, especially during the Halloween season, can quickly escalate. "Historically, we have seen pranks around the nation with people wearing masks, trying to mimic movie scenes or horrific films," he said. "These are serious matters because they are frightening, but most importantly, they can result in serious injury."
The alleged suspects could face charges including burglary and making criminal threats, McGuire said. "They attempted to enter a residence, and under Virginia state law, that constitutes burglary," he said. "It's a warning to people: do not go up to people's doors, make threats, advance their doorways, and play with their lives, because it ultimately can end up in a dangerous event."
The police chief also emphasized that residents have the legal right to defend themselves inside their homes, warning that future incidents could turn violent. "If you are the one who engaged in this type of behavior, we're actively searching for you," he added.
"If it were someone young, I would encourage parents to come forward. It is better to address this voluntarily than wait for us to make an arrest," the chief said. With Halloween just a few weeks away, McGuire offered a message to parents. "Know where your children are and what they're doing," he said. "Talk to them about the decisions they are making. We don't want to get police involved in something that did not derive from criminal intent, but this incident did."
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