A video showing three masked individuals trying to break into a Virginia home was the result of a family prank gone wrong, according to police.
Chilling doorbell video shows trio in Halloween costumes outside home, shouting threats.

A masked trio being sought in a chilling attempted break-in at a Virginia home this month was family members pulling a prank, according to new information released by police in the case.

After more than 100 hours of investigation, Alexandria Police Department Chief Tarrick McGuire said detectives identified the three suspects who terrorized a family dressed in frightening "Halloween masks" as cousins of the residents.

The reported prank took place on Oct. 14 in Alexandria, a city just south of Washington, DC.

The incident in which the trio made threats against the family and caused property damage to their home was captured on a home's Ring surveillance camera, McGuire said during an Oct. 27 press conference.

McGuire said investigators received numerous tips after the story garnered national attention, and later contacted one of the suspects, an adult female, who confessed to her role and that of other family members in the case.

Police chief calls incident a 'moral failure'

McGuire told reporters a woman admitted she and her two sons and a nephew staged the prank while two other adults and a child reportedly filmed the incident.

Calling it a "moral failure," McGuire said the incident could have gone south fast had someone opened fire on the suspect. In addition to calling 911, McGuire said the homeowner called her brother, who arrived at the scene armed with a loaded firearm.

Police responded to a 911 call at the home shortly after the incident, McGuire said, adding there was no indication the residents at the home knew about the prank.

"Adults should be accountable for their children, and not exercise this type of behavior. Hopefully, this will be a learning experience for their family," the chief said.

Suspects won't face charges, police say

The chief also said no criminal charges would be filed in the case.

Because the family did not want to pursue charges, police said, the suspects will not be identified.

No one was injured in the incident.

Doorbell camera captured scary incident

Footage captured the frightening episode, which began when one of the masked individuals rang the front doorbell.

Video shows the trio standing ominously in the front yard before taking turns ringing the bell, knocking on the door and, at one point, jiggling its handle.

"It’s either you come out or we come in," one of the masked men says in the video as the trio continues to demand that the family open the door.

Shayla Whiteside, who lives in the home, previously said the trio of attempted burglars appeared to be strangers and she thought the scene was a prank.

"They tried forcing the front door open, jiggled the handles, broke down my backyard fence, and tore through the back screen, screaming threats, saying that they will kill us and that they were coming back," she told Storyful.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Masked trio in horrifying attempted break-in were family members pulling a prank, cops say

Reporting by Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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