Nutley Police Respond To School; Student Had Toy Gun, Cops Say

NUTLEY, NJ — Nutley police responded to a local elementary school last week after getting a report about a student with a toy gun that shoots “gel blaster” pellets, authorities announced Friday.

According to the Nutley Police Department, officers responded to the school on May 5 in response to a student having a toy gun with them.

“Upon further investigation, it was determined to be an Ultimate Orbeez gun classified as a toy,” police said in a statement, which didn’t include additional details about the incident.

Nutley police noted that they issued an advisory about the misuse of gel blaster guns, including Orbeez pellets, which have been linked to a nationwide TikTok trend.

In Nutley, the toy guns are becoming “problematic,” authorities said.

“Children have been using them in public shooting at unsuspecting individuals, causing them to become startled,” police said, adding that they continue to urge local parents to speak with their children about the potential hazards.

• See related article: Nutley Cops Keep Warning About Gel Blaster Guns, Orbeez
• See related article: Nutley Juveniles Fired 'Gel-Like Balls' From Toy Gun At Car, Police Say

Nutley police offered more details about the issue in an April social media post:

“Police Director Alphonse Petracco and Chief Thomas Strumolo are advising residents that we are experiencing a problem with children shooting gel blaster guns. Chief Strumolo said these guns are plastic but work similar to paint ball guns. The guns are battery operated shoot gel-like projectiles 90 feet per second over 100 feet. Although classified as a toy police have responded to numerous calls in which motor vehicles were struck with projectiles while driving. The pellets themselves are ecofriendly and nontoxic however, they can still cause eye injury. More importantly a motorist that may become startled and become involved in a motor vehicle accident. Director Petracco requests that parents that purchase or allow their children to play with these guns explain the dangers associated with shooting at homes, or passing motorists. Although children may not know better, throwing or shooting anything at a person is a chargeable offense.”

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