Trio wearing Halloween masks caught on camera terrorizing family, trying to break into Virginia home

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Virginia police are searching for a group of people in costume who were caught on video terrorizing a family and trying to enter their home on Tuesday night, WUSA9 reported.

"You know, when I first saw the video, to be honest with you, I thought that this has to be a prank," said Alexandria Police Chief Tarrick McGuire.

But, McGuire said, the disturbing incident caught on Ring doorbell camera was anything but a prank.

"We're actively searching for you. We're going to ultimately find you," McGuire said. "I want to be very clear. This is a very serious matter."

A woman named Shayla said the home is her mom's.

"At first, I thought it was just a Halloween joke, a little prank, so I said, 'Happy Halloween,'" Shayla said. "They kept, like, knocking on the door. The knocks would get harder and harder."

Shayla said as soon as they realized this was not just some Halloween prank, they called police and even yelled out that they had called.

"They threatened to kill us," Shayla said.

But the trio just continued.

"What was most concerning in this event is not only did they knock on the door, make alarming comments, but they went around to the rear of the residence, caused damage to the property... They were just hitting the window," McGuire said.

Shayla said the masked individuals went right up to the glass.

"It's not even a joke gone wrong. They tried to enter into the home. Like, my heart dropped when they said that they were going to take a chair and break down the door. That is just too much," Shayla said.

She and her mother were terrified, and this, she said, could have ended very differently.

"It could have been bad. Our Second Amendment right was not used and could have been, like, being very transparent," Shayla said.

McGuire said, "People that are in their residences, according to our laws and laws across our nation, can defend themselves. So, 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."

"My dad recently just died, so it's just like, I'm just glad I was there. Now, she's in fear. She don't want to stay there by herself," Shayla said.

McGuire said if you know the people behind these masks, even if it is your kid, "I would acknowledge you to, uh, or make a recommendation to you to come forward and report your child. It is better to come forward so we can address this situation and work through it."

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