A quiet Virginia neighborhood turned into a horror movie scene when three masked intruders attempted to break into a home in Alexandria, Virginia.
Police say the trio wore chilling Halloween disguises, taunted the terrified family inside, and made violent threats before fleeing into the night.
The frightening encounter unfolded around 10 p.m. Tuesday and was captured on doorbell camera footage.
One suspect donned the infamous Michael Myers mask from the Halloween film series, while the others appeared as a distorted clown and a sinister nun.
The video shows the masked figures pacing near the front door, gesturing menacingly, and yelling threats that left the family fearing for their lives.
“It’s your worst nightmare!” one of the suspects shouted toward the home. Another demanded, “Open the door!” followed by a chilling ultimatum: “It’s either you coming out or we coming in.”
Inside, a woman named Shayla was staying with her mother, still grieving the recent death of her father.
She told WUSA that at first, she mistook the commotion for a holiday prank. “At first I thought it was just a Halloween joke, a little prank,” she said. “So I said, ‘Happy Halloween.’”
Her tone shifted quickly as the situation escalated. “They kept knocking on the door,” Shayla said. “The knocks would get harder and harder. It’s not even a joke gone wrong.”
“They tried to enter into the home. My heart dropped when they said they were gonna take a chair and break down the door,” she revealed.
According to Shayla, even after she called 911 and warned that police were on the way, the masked intruders tried to access the back of the house.
She described showing officers where they allegedly attempted to force their way in.
“This whole thing they broke down, as you can tell, they hopped up on here and went through there,” she said. “It could have been bad. Our Second Amendment right was not used and could have been, like being very transparent.”
On Thursday, Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire confirmed that the department has opened a criminal investigation into the incident. He called the suspects’ actions deeply alarming.
“This is a very serious matter. They began to make threatening and alarming comments to the family,” McGuire said.
“Specifically, they said, ‘If you do not come out, we will come in,’ and also threatened to do bodily harm, stating that they would ultimately kill them.”
Police believe the suspects fled the scene in a vehicle and are reviewing footage from nearby homes and businesses for additional clues. McGuire stated that the group could face serious charges.
“They attempted to enter a residence, and under Virginia state law, that constitutes burglary,” he explained.
He added a warning for others who might consider similar behavior. “It’s a warning to people: do not go up to people’s doors, make threats, advance their doorways, and play with their lives, because it ultimately can end up in a dangerous event.”
The police chief noted that incidents like this tend to increase during Halloween season, as some individuals mimic horror film scenes without realizing how easily such acts can turn violent.
“Historically, we have seen pranks around the nation with people wearing masks, trying to mimic movie scenes or horrific films,” he said.
“These are serious matters because they are frightening, but most importantly, they can result in serious injury.”
McGuire also issued a strong message to the suspects and their families. “If you are the one that engaged in this type of behavior, we’re actively searching for you,” he said.
“If it was someone young, I encourage parents to come forward. It is better to address this voluntarily than wait for us to make an arrest.”
The eerie case in Virginia isn’t the only strange crime to grab attention this week.
In Florida, a 23-year-old man named Joshua Garrison was arrested Tuesday after police say he tried to break into a Pinellas Park home while completely naked.
According to the Pinellas Park Police Department, officers were called after reports of a nude man attempting to force his way into multiple homes and causing property damage.
Garrison now faces several charges, including armed residential burglary, two counts of residential burglary, criminal mischief, and two probation violations related to prior offenses of grand theft auto and fleeing from law enforcement.
One resident, Tim Reischmann, recounted a disturbing encounter when Garrison allegedly targeted his property.
“He went into my shed, grabbed an ax, and came back on my porch. We don’t know why he didn’t use it,” Reischmann told WFLA.
He said the suspect even scaled a six-foot fence and helped himself to refreshments. “We see him grabbing a bottle of beer and a can of soda,” he said.
Reischmann later posted security footage stills to Facebook, hoping to help authorities locate the suspect before the arrest was made.
“We have not been informed of any advancement in finding and arresting this dangerous predator. PLEASE SHARE,” he wrote in the post.
He added that the incident left his wife anxious and on edge. “Somebody must know him. Even though we have increased our security, my wife is feeling unsettled [and] jumping at noises,” he said.
Local reports from FOX 13 and Tampa Bay 28 News confirmed that Garrison was eventually taken into custody without resistance.
Police have not specified how many homes were targeted during his alleged crime spree.
