VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Young people are taking little gel beads called “Orbeez” and shooting them from toy guns.
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In one case, a person drove by a woman with her baby and shot at them.
It’s one of many problems officers are dealing with during spring break.
In New Smyrna Beach, a curfew is in effect for people under 18 east of Riverside Drive and for groups of 30 or more elsewhere in the city limits from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday, Saturday and legal holidays, city officials said.
READ: ‘Disruptive spring break crowds’ lead to 11 p.m. youth curfew in New Smyrna Beach
Channel 9 also found out that teenagers across Volusia County are driving around and shooting people at random with a toy meant for young children and getting arrested for it.
A mother and toddler were shot at in Port Orange and an Amazon driver was shot on the job in Deltona.
Police said teens and young adults are taking aim at any and everyone, including each other.
A video shows several kids shooting pellets at one another. They eventually crash their car into a tree at a park in Deltona.
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Investigators said it is all part of the “Orbeez Challenge” that’s trending across the country.
A popular kids gift, Orbeez are actually super absorbent gel pellets that grow to more than 100 times their size when placed in water.
But when placed in a blaster, they can be shot at high velocity and do serious damage.
Last week, Volusia sheriff’s deputies arrested 19-year-old Sean McMullen, who fired Orbeez at the Amazon driver.
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The teens and young adults getting arrested might think the challenge is all fun and games but they are facing serious charges, including battery.
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