Kids Injured In The Caldwells, Pelted With Toy Gun Pellets: Police

WEST CALDWELL, NJ — Teens in ski masks have recently been driving around and pelting school-aged children with small projectiles in West Caldwell, police say.

The West Caldwell Police Department has issued two statements about the incidents, noting that “significant progress” has been made in their investigation.

Police released the following message on Sept. 28:

“The West Caldwell Police Department has been alerted to multiple incidents where school-aged children were targeted and shot at with small projectiles from what appears to be an orange toy gun. These incidents occurred yesterday after school hours, with most of the victims walking home at the time. Thankfully, only minor injuries have been reported. While these attacks seem random, we believe they may be linked to the same group of criminal actors. Our patrols and detectives have been working tirelessly over the past 24 hours, gathering leads, reviewing video footage, analyzing License Plate Reader information, and attempting to identify the suspect vehicle and individuals involved. We are confident these suspects will be identified and brought to justice very soon.”

According to police, the suspect vehicle is described as a dark-colored SUV, occupied by high school-aged males wearing ski masks.

“We want to remind everyone that the use of replica firearms to commit acts of violence has serious consequences,” police warned. “We urge all parents in the Caldwell and West Caldwell communities to speak with their children about the dangers of engaging in this behavior and participating in social media challenges with potential criminal implications.”

“Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the West Caldwell Police Department at 973-226-4114, or dial 911 in case of an emergency,” authorities added.

UPDATE

West Caldwell police issued an update about the investigation on Sept. 29.

“We have made significant progress in the investigation into recent incidents involving school-aged children being targeted and struck by small projectiles from what appears to be an orange toy gun,” authorities said.

“Thanks to the diligent work of our officers and the cooperation of local businesses, we identified a suspect vehicle, a green Jeep SUV, early last night using surveillance footage,” police continued. “The vehicle was further confirmed through our Automated License Plate Readers and entered as a felony vehicle. With the assistance from Caldwell Police Department, both the vehicle and a 17-year-old Caldwell juvenile were located late last night. The vehicle has since been impounded.”

“Our investigation remains very active and ongoing, and we are pursuing all additional leads,” police added.

“Our thoughts are with the children who were affected, especially those who suffered minor injuries during this unsettling incident,” the WCPD stated. “Special thanks to Sgt. Keepers for his relentless efforts over the past 36 hours in identifying the suspect vehicle. We will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses. Together, we can maintain the safety and security of our community.”

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