Crime & Safety

South Orange Cops Find Teens With BB Guns On Halloween

"This is how tragedy happens," South Orange police said.

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — It wasn’t an easy Halloween for the South Orange Police Department. As if “disturbances, vehicle burglaries and calls of people pushing juveniles down to take their candy” weren’t enough, local police also encountered a much more dangerous situation: a group of juveniles running around with BB guns.

According to the South Orange Police Department, while “canvassing dark neighborhoods” on Halloween night, officers saw a group of juveniles in jeans and dark-hooded sweatshirts brandishing Airsoft BB guns.

Police said that the orange tips on the BB guns – which help officers “identify the real from the fake” – were painted over or burned off. The teens weren’t dressed in costumes, just street clothes.

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“This is how tragedy happens,” police said.

According to the SOPD:

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“In NJ, to possess a rifle BB gun you must have a firearms ID card and be at least 18. A BB handgun is considered a firearm and requires a purchase permit and an age of 21 years. Please, if your child owns an air soft gun, ensure they haven’t painted the tip and talk to them about making smart choices when out and about. These ‘toys’ look real in the day time, under low light conditions, presenting them under certain situations can be disastrous.”

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Photos: South Orange Police Department

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