A terrifying incident, appearing to resemble a horror movie Halloween scare, that brought great public concern in Alexandria, Virginia ultimately resulted from an unplanned family prank that got completely out-of-control, according to officials; A video showing the event, shot via a doorbell camera and released to the masses through all social media platforms, showed what appeared to be hooded and masked individuals menacingly approaching a home, prompted the frightened occupant to dial 911, and caused the police to respond to the scene with urgency.

A Hoax Which Had Potential to Be Fatal

On Oct. 14, 2019 the Alexandria Police Department reported receiving a 911 call regarding three hooded and masked males, reportedly making threats at a home located on South Iris Street. Following the initial investigation, it was determined that the masked men and their victims were cousins and that the whole ordeal had been set up as a prank by three teens (ages 14-16) who donned their Halloween masks and went to the residence where the two adult family members filmed the event.

Before she dialed 911, the female inside the home called her brother, who responded to the home with a firearm. This increased the likelihood of a violent confrontation occurring. Chief of Police Tarrick McGuire described how easily things could have gone wrong, stating that one misstep could have led to serious injury and potentially even death.

The department indicated that there were over 100 man-hours of detective work that occurred prior to the identification of the parties involved in the prank. Upon receipt of several community tips, the detectives identified the hooded and masked individuals involved in the prank as the victim’s two sons and nephew, as well as the filming adult family members.

Police Voice Strong Disapproval of Pranksters’ Parents

It appears that the victim has requested that the local prosecutor drop any charges against her family and it is believed that none will be filed at this time. While the police expressed disapproval toward the adults who were behind the planning of the prank, they did not express that same level of disappointment toward the young teens who actually carried out the plan.

“We need to understand,” McGuire stated in a press conference that was shared by the City of Alexandria. “We live in a world where you can have a gun in your hand and if you’re scared enough, you might shoot someone.”

McGuire further stated that he was frustrated that the adults involved didn’t consider the potential consequences of their actions.

“This was a moral failing,” McGuire said. “This could have ended in deadly consequences, and we cannot ignore that.”

Additionally, McGuire expressed his hope that the community would take heed of this incident and refrain from engaging in future activities that could cause harm to others, especially during times when a person is feeling threatened and may react in a manner that could result in injury or death to themselves or another.

The department also encouraged citizens to consider the possibility of the escalation of fear in relation to security issues at home prior to carrying out any type of prank involving threats or the use of a weapon.

With the upcoming Halloween season, law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. have also provided warnings to the public about the potential dangers associated with realistic pranks and scary surprises that may be delivered to homes, either in-person or through viral video — warning that the difference between a prank and tragedy is often far less than most would believe.