Alexandria prank by relatives ends with no charges

Three masked teenagers captured on a home security camera threatening to break into a house in Alexandria, Virginia, on Oct. 14 were part of a prank staged by relatives, police said Monday after more than 100 hours of investigation. Officers initially treated the episode as a suspected attempted burglary after footage showed the costumed figures banging on the front door and shouting threats outside the residence.

Police said the doorbell camera recorded one of the masked people saying, "If you do not come out, we will come in," and other menacing comments as they tried a doorknob and banged on the entryway for roughly 10 minutes. A woman inside the home called her brother before calling 911; he arrived at the scene carrying a firearm, authorities said. The family later reported the incident to police.

Investigators followed tips from the community after a press conference and identified three juveniles, ages 14 to 16, as the individuals in the footage. A woman related to the homeowners confessed, according to police, saying she, her two sons and a nephew had approached the house in Halloween masks. Two additional adults and a child reportedly filmed the encounter from the...