The masked trio wanted in a cold-blooded attempted burglary at a Virginia home this month were family members playing a prank, according to new information released by police in the case.
After more than 100 hours of investigation, Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire said detectives have identified the three suspects who terrorized a family wearing scary “Halloween masks” as the residents’ cousins.
The reported prank took place on Tuesday, October 14. in Alexandria, a city south of Washington.
The incident, in which the trio threatened the family and caused property damage to their home, was captured on the Ring home’s surveillance camera, McGuire said at a news conference Monday, Oct. 27.
A video of three masked men trying to break into a Virginia home was the result of a family prank, police said.
“You leave or we come in.” A masked trio threatens homeowners in a chilling video
McGuire said investigators received numerous tips after the story gained national attention and later contacted one of the suspects, an adult woman who confessed to her and other family members’ roles in the case.
Police chief calls incident ‘moral failure’
McGuire told reporters that the woman admitted to playing a prank with her two sons and a nephew, while two other adults and a child filmed the incident.
Calling it a “moral failure,” McGuire said the incident could have quickly spread south if someone had opened fire on the suspect. In addition to calling 911, McGuire said the homeowner called his brother, who arrived at the scene armed with a loaded firearm.
Police responded to a 911 call at the home shortly after the incident, McGuire said, adding that there was no indication the residents of the home were aware of the prank.
“Adults should be responsible for their children and not behave in this way. We hope this will be a learning experience for their family,” said the manager.
Former NFL player arrested: Adrian Peterson arrested on DWI, gun charges in Texas
No charges will be filed against the suspects, police said
The chief also said that no criminal charges will be filed in the case.
Because the family did not want to press charges, no suspects have been identified.
No one was injured during the incident.
A doorbell camera captured the horrific incident
Footage captured the terrifying episode, which began when one of the masked men rang the doorbell.
The video shows the trio menacingly standing in the front yard before taking turns ringing the bell, knocking on the door and swinging the handle at the same time.
“Either you leave or we come in,” one of the masked men says in the video, as the trio continue to demand that the family open the door.
Shayla Whiteside, who lives at the home, previously said the trio appeared to be strangers when they tried to break in and she thought the scene was a prank.
“They tried to force open the front door, moved the handles, broke my backyard fence and tore through the back screen, screaming threats, saying they were going to kill us and that they were going to come back,” she told Storyful.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Police say masked people pulled pranks on burglars