'Orbeez Challenge' Leads To Assault Charge For Teen: Dearborn PD

DEARBORN, MI — A Dearborn teenager is facing assault charges in connection to what police say is a new social media trend called the "Orbeez Challenge."

As part of the trend, young users film themselves on TikTok loading water-absorbent polymer beads, known as Orbeez balls, into gel blaster guns, and shooting bystanders at random, officials said. The gel blasters can be bought on the internet for between $50-$100.

Officers said they've responded to numerous incidents over the last few weeks of random people getting seriously injured from the shots. Officials warned the projectile beads are capable of causing injuries, potentially severe, in sensitive areas of the body.

Dearborn Police Chief Issa Shahin said the department will have a zero-tolerance approach to anyone who participates in the new trend.

"Once again we find ourselves dealing with a dangerous trend on social media that has influenced our young people to make dangerous choices that can have lifetime consequences," Shahin said. "I encourage parents to talk to their kids about what they see on social media and to pay attention to the next inevitable dangerous trend that is sure to arise."