A chilling doorbell prank that had the police pouring over 100 hours into their investigation has unraveled a surprising twist: the three masked teens who incited fear at a Virginia residence were actually related to the homeowners.
The incident was captured by a doorbell camera on October 14 in Alexandria, where the masked trio approached the house, provoking the residents with demands to open up and threatening to force their way inside.
One of the voices captured in the footage issued a stark warning, stating, “It’s either you come out or we coming in.”
The Alexandria Police Department condemned the actions, warning that those involved could face legal repercussions. They also urged the public to provide any information that could help identify the culprits behind the masks.
Footage of this unsettling prank quickly went viral, capturing national interest.
At the time of the encounter, Shayla Whiteside was staying at her mother’s home. She shouted at the teenagers through the door, demanding they reveal who they were, as they persistently ordered her to let them in.
After over 10 minutes of taunting, the group finally fled the home, and Whiteside’s family reported the incident to police.
Over a week after the chilling interaction, detectives have now confirmed that the three teens were related to the victim, and their mother helped orchestrate the prank.
‘A significant break in the case came after the department’s first press conference, when multiple community tips led investigators to the suspects, three juveniles, ages 14 to 16, who were related to the victim,’ the department announced.
Three masked teens taunted a home in Virginia on the night of October 14, prompting a criminal investigation
The teens made terrifying threats as they approached the home in haunting masks in a sick joke
After over 100 investigative hours, police revealed that the teens were related to the victim, and no charges would be filed
The mother later confessed to the police that she approached the home in Halloween masks with her two sons and nephew.
Police added that two additional adults participated in the sick prank by filming the interaction from the street.
It is not believed the homeowners were aware of who responsible until they were informed by police.
The family has decided not to pursue criminal charges, so police have not had cause to reveal their identities.
‘While this case may not result in prosecution, it represents a serious moral failure,’ Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire said.
‘Pranks of this nature are not taken lightly. Actions like these could have deadly consequences.’
McGuire added that parents have a responsibility to guide their children’s behavior and must be held accountable for it.
He defended the decision not to press charges, telling reporters during a press conference: ‘From a human perspective, while this was very challenging, we also have to ask: “Does this individual desire to prosecute against their family?”‘
Shayla Whiteside was visiting her mother’s home in Alexandria during the terrifying prank. She told police that she called her brother, who arrived at the house with a firearm
Police warned that similar pranks tend to escalate around Halloween and cautioned parents to remain vigilant
‘And I think that they decided not to, and we have to work through that. We have to try to respect that decision.’
Police stressed that, even though the nightmarish scenario turned out to be a family prank, the situation could’ve quickly escalated into violence.
Whiteside had called her brother for help before reporting the incident, and he arrived at her home with a firearm.
After the prank, Whiteside condemned the behavior on her Facebook, writing in a post: ‘This isn’t a prank. They came to my door dressed like this… then tried to get in [the house].’
McGuire warned the community that similar pranks tend to escalate as Halloween approaches and said he hopes people learned from the incident.
