Police around the country are reporting incidences of individuals being injured and even teens being arrested as a result of a deadly new TikTok challenge.
The “Orbeez challenge” invites players to use a gel pellet cannon to sneak attack unsuspecting persons.
Incidents have been reported in the areas surrounding Philadelphia, Orlando, Atlanta, Phoenix, the Bay Area, and other cities.
“We continue to see teenagers discharging splat ball guns (Orbeez) at other people, even at innocent bystanders,” Peachtree City Police in Georgia wrote on Facebook. “Now they are modifying the beads to be more painful.”
Officers in Volusia County, Florida, also issued a warning about a string of Orbeez shootings in the area, which have resulted in four arrests so far, according to police.
Not only are police warning of the dangers of firing toy weapons, but they are also threatening arrests for anyone who participates in the social media challenge.
Deputies recently arrested a 19-year-old man for shooting an Amazon delivery driver in Deltona while he was driving his route, hitting him in the glasses and neck. According to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, the same shooter also shot a random adult and a 10-year-old child in the face and chest.
“These kids think it’s funny. They’re violating the law. They’re committing a battery. If the pellet happens to injure the person to the point it breaks the skin, could be looking at a felony charge. These things don’t go away. Could affect your future,” Winter Garden Police Captain Scott Allen remarked.
Videos depicting, promoting, normalizing, or glorifying dangerous acts that may result in serious injury or death are expressly prohibited by TikTok’s community guidelines.
Local police should be notified of any attacks.