Delaware neighborhood on alert

Two Masked Teens Knocked on Neighborhood Doors with an Apparent Rifle. Now They’ve Been Charged

ByLauren Wellbank News

Over the weekend, New Castle County Police shared some scary photos that were captured by residents. In the snaps, two men carrying what appeared to be a rifle could be seen knocking on doors, which police say began on Oct. 9 at around 10:50 p.m.

“According to residents, an unknown male wearing a black hockey-style mask and tactical-style vest approached homes while carrying what appeared to be a rifle, knocked on doors, and then ran,” the caption said. “Four males were also seen heading eastbound on Mallard Road, two on bicycles and two on foot.”

The police asked for the public’s help with identifying the men, and explained that New Castle County Police had been hard at work patrolling the neighborhood looking for the people. 

However, police later identified two juveniles in connection with the incident. Hopefully this helps ease some minds in New Castle County, since it seems like the entire neighborhood has been on edge since Friday night.

Police Investigate Reports of Men Carrying What Appeared to Be a Rifle


The Oct. 10 post detailed what had been going on, saying that the incident took place on the 1200 block of Canvasback Drive in Mallard Pointe. While the men were gone by the time officers arrived, police said they began investigating.

“Responding officers, along with a K9 unit, conducted a thorough search of the neighborhood and nearby properties,” the post said. “Despite these efforts, they did not locate the individuals.” The post went on to say that the weapons appeared to be Airsoft-style, but that the police hadn’t yet confirmed whether that was the case or not. 
 
The post ended with a call to action, asking anyone with information or additional security camera footage to contact police. 

Residents Warned of the Dangers in Facebook Comments

While locals were likely very upset by the incident, people on Facebook shared the potential consequences of the men’s actions. “If these guys are playing, I wonder if they realize there’s a real chance that they might get shot,” one person wrote.
 
Another person shared a similar sentiment, writing, “This can turn into a real FAFO moment [if] they show up at the wrong house.”
 
“This is so dangerous,” yet another person wrote. “Either of these boys could easily encounter someone who might not ask questions first. Hope the parents see this post.”

Two Juveniles Charged After Door-Knocking Incident


On Oct. 12, New Castle County Police shared an update about the case, saying that they had received information that helped them find the two people in the photos. 

“Officers subsequently contacted the two male juveniles, ages 16 and 17, in connection with the incident,” the updated post said. “As part of the investigation, officers obtained and executed a search warrant at one of the juveniles’ residences, where they recovered a gel bead gun, a tactical vest, and a hockey-style mask.”
 
The teens were both charged with two misdemeanor counts of harassment, one misdemeanor count of criminal mischief, and two violations of criminal trespassing. Police did not release the teens’ names because they are minors.

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