Orbeez TikTok Challenge Prompts Warning From FL Law Enforcement - Patch
Law enforcement officials warn Floridians not to accept a social media challenge to shoot at others with soft gel beads called Orbeez.
PASCO COUNTY, FL — Florida law enforcement officials are warning people against following the latest social media trend that encourages shooting at others with water beads called Orbeez from a modified water gun or BB gun.
The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is among the most recent law enforcement agencies to issue a warning not to accept what's being called the "Orbeez Challenge" on the social media app TikTok.
"While this is not illegal, it's important to participate in this activity responsibly to ensure the safety of everyone in our community," said the sheriff's office in a news release.
Orbeez are soft, non-toxic, biodegradable gel balls that can be shot with special gel blaster guns available for sale in most department store toy aisles.
However, law enforcement said the tiny balls shot at a high speed from a toy gun can cause eye injuries.
Additionally, the sheriff's office said it's never a good idea to shoot at strangers with any type of toy gun that can be mistaken for the real thing.
"We urge our citizens to participate in this trend responsibly," said the Pasco sheriff.
Pinellas County sheriff's deputies are taking a tougher approach to Orbeez pranksters.
A Pinellas County woman was charged with battery Saturday after she shot her neighbor with the gel beads.
Deputies said the neighbor was walking past the woman's home when she walked onto her porch and shot the neighbor in the face with the gel beads.
The latest social media craze has police in many states worried about injuries.
In Peachtree City, Georgia, police said a boy riding his bike Monday suffered a bloody nose and bruises on his chest after teens shooting plastic Orbeez "splatter guns" surrounded the child and fired.
Police said the attacks are "getting out of hand" as they're seeing more cases. Teens are using the Orbeez guns to shoot strangers and each other, police said.
Myrtle Beach Police in South Carolina warned parents about loading replica guns with Orbeez gel beads. While the replica guns are not considered a deadly weapon, they can be mistaken for a real firearm, and could turn a prank into a deadly situation, officials said.
This story includes reporting by Patch Editor Andrea Watson.
source: https://patch.com/florida/newportrichey/orbeez-tiktok-challenge-prompts-law-enforcement-issue-warning
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