Two teenagers wearing tactical-style vests and masks approached homes in a New Castle, Delaware, neighborhood late Friday night while carrying objects that appeared to be rifles, police said. Investigators later determined the incidents were part of a prank and found no threats of violence had been made. The 16- and 17-year-old boys were identified Sunday and arrested that evening. A search of one home produced a gel bead gun, a tactical vest and a hockey-style mask.
Residents in the Mallard Pointe neighborhood reported seeing masked individuals near homes shortly before 11 p.m. on October 9, 2026. The encounters prompted a police response and a search involving a K-9 unit, although officers initially could not locate the individuals.
| 1) | Residents report masked figures near homes |
| 2) | Police search the neighborhood after late-night calls |
| 3) | Investigators identify two teenage suspects |
| 4) | Search warrant yields prank-related items |
| 5) | Juveniles face misdemeanor and trespassing charges |
Residents report masked figures near homes
The investigation began after residents of Mallard Pointe in New Castle reported masked individuals approaching houses late Friday, October 9. Surveillance images showed one person wearing a black hockey-style mask and a tactical-style vest while holding what appeared to be a rifle near a front door. A separate image showed another masked person in a black vest approaching a residence.
Residents told investigators that a masked individual carrying an apparent rifle knocked on doors and then ran away. The activity alarmed neighbors because the objects resembled firearms and the encounters occurred at night. Police later concluded that the teenagers were engaged in a prank rather than making a direct threat of violence.
Police search the neighborhood after late-night calls
Officers were dispatched at approximately 10:50 p.m. to the 1200 block of Canvasback Drive after receiving a report of a suspicious person. Police also reported seeing four individuals traveling east on Mallard Road, with two riding bicycles and two walking.
Officers searched the neighborhood and nearby properties with assistance from a K-9 unit, but they did not find the individuals during the initial response. The search followed multiple reports of people in masks and tactical-style clothing moving around residential properties.
Investigators identify two teenage suspects
Investigators received information that helped them identify two boys, ages 16 and 17, on Sunday. New Castle County police said both juveniles were arrested Sunday evening after being linked to the encounters.
A police spokesperson, Andrea Botterbusch, confirmed the arrests and said officers determined that the teenagers had been knocking on residents’ doors as part of a prank. Police said no threats of violence were made during the incidents, though the conduct caused concern among residents and required an emergency response.
Search warrant yields prank-related items
As part of the investigation, officers executed a search warrant at one of the teenagers’ homes. They recovered a gel bead gun, a tactical vest and a hockey-style mask.
Investigators initially believed the apparent weapons seen in the surveillance images could have been airsoft-style guns. Police have not confirmed whether the recovered gel bead gun was the same item visible in the photographs. The distinction remained important because residents had reported objects that looked like rifles, even though authorities did not identify a confirmed firearm in the case.
Juveniles face misdemeanor and trespassing charges
Each teenager was charged with two misdemeanor counts of harassment, one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief and two violations for criminal trespassing. Arraignment information for both juveniles was pending Monday, October 12.
The Delaware incident occurred nearly two months after a separate case in Philadelphia involving a man wearing a Chucky-style mask who was accused of frightening pedestrians. That suspect, Zymire Hughes, 22, was arrested in Las Vegas later that month by members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Philadelphia office. The Philadelphia case was separate from the Delaware investigation.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Two boys, ages 16 and 17, were arrested Sunday after the Mallard Pointe incidents. |
| 2 | Police said the masked door-knocking was a prank and that no threats of violence were made. |
| 3 | A search warrant produced a gel bead gun, tactical vest and hockey-style mask. |
| 4 | The juveniles face harassment, criminal mischief and criminal trespassing charges. |
Summary
Police said a late-night disturbance in a New Castle neighborhood was caused by two teenagers carrying a gel bead gun or similar object during a prank. The use of masks, tactical-style vests and rifle-like objects led residents to call police and prompted a neighborhood search. Although no violent threats were reported, both teenagers face multiple misdemeanor and trespassing charges, with arraignment information pending.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Mallard Pointe neighborhood?
Masked individuals wearing tactical-style vests approached homes and knocked on doors late Friday night, while carrying objects that appeared to be rifles.
Who was arrested?
New Castle County police arrested two boys, ages 16 and 17, on Sunday evening after investigators identified them.
What items did police recover?
Officers recovered a gel bead gun, a tactical vest and a hockey-style mask during a search of one teenager’s home.
What charges do the teenagers face?
Each juvenile was charged with two counts of misdemeanor harassment, one count of misdemeanor criminal mischief and two criminal trespassing violations.
