Doorbell footage captures the visual (Video credits/X)
A terrifying Halloween night unfolded in Alexandria, Virginia, when three mask-wearing intruders attempted to break into a widow’s home, threatening to kill the occupants, according to doorbell camera footage shared by the family.The incident occurred around 10 pm on Tuesday at a home about eight miles from Washington, DC. The homeowner’s daughter, Shayla said that at first she believed the masked figures — dressed as Michael Myers, a clown and a sinister-looking nun were playing a prank.“At first I thought it was just a Halloween joke, a little prank,” Shayla said. “So I said, ‘Happy Halloween.’”When the trio refused to leave, Shayla warned she would call the police however, the intruders continued knocking and pounding on the door. “They kept, like, knocking on the door. The knocks would get harder and harder,” she recalled. Doorbell footage shows the intruders demanding entry, shouting, “It’s either you coming out or we coming in. Open the door!” Shayla’s younger brother and the family dog were also inside the home during the frightening encounter.The intruders later moved to the back of the house, breaking through a wooden fence, slashing deck screens and banging on windows while peering inside, as reported by New York Post. Shayla described the moment as horrifying: “My heart dropped when they said they were gonna take a chair and break down the door. That is just too much.”After about 10 minutes of terror, the trio finally left, leaving the family shaken. “It’s not even a joke gone wrong. They tried to enter the home,” Shayla said. “My dad recently just died, so it’s like … I’m just glad I was there. But now she’s in fear. She doesn’t want to stay there by herself.”Social media users compared the incident to the 2013 thriller film The Purge, with some warning about the risks of escalating pranks.Reacting to incident, one user said: “Literally The Purge”. Another said: “They’re lucky they didn’t get shot.”Alexandria Police Chief Tarrik McGuire described the incident as a “very serious matter”, highlighting that the intruders threatened bodily harm and attempted to enter the home. Investigators are reviewing additional surveillance footage to identify the suspects, who may face charges including burglary and criminal threats.“They attempted to enter a residence, and under Virginia state law, that constitutes burglary,” McGuire said. He also reminded the public that homeowners have the legal right to defend themselves if threatened, according to Fox news. The chief urged parents to monitor children’s Halloween activities closely. “Know where your children are and what they’re doing. Talk to them about the decisions they are making. We don’t want to get police involved in something that did not derive from criminal intent, but this incident did,” he said.
