The Jenkintown Police Department announced at approximately 9:00pm on Friday, September 20 that officers responded to an incident involving juveniles who fired at least one Orbeez gun, which is a popular toy gun that fires gel pellets, at other juveniles while on the Jenkintown School District campus after hours.
During the incident, at least one juvenile was struck with a projectile from the Orbeez gun and sustained minor injuries, police said.
For the uninformed, an Orbeez gun is a polymer-based replica gun that fires a water filled projectile or gel-filled projectile. According to the department, the guns are able to shoot a liquid-filled projectile at an estimated 100-200 feet per second, and other gel-filled projectile guns can fire anywhere from 250-400 feet per second.
As a point of reference, a typical handgun is shooting a lead-filled projectile anywhere from 800-1200 feet per second, police said. The guns are described on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and other outlets as “backyard fun for outdoor shooting games” and “suitable for children 12 years old and above.”
The department is investigating the incident and will prosecute if appropriate.
“This incident is not the first to have occurred within the Borough. We were advised of incidents that occurred during the traditional night before Jenkintown Color Day festivities where all of our students engage in fun activities showing their red or blue pride,” the department said in a post.
Police said a few of those incidents involved hot sauce-laden projectiles among other irritants, and that numerous incidents have likely been unreported.
“Today’s incident and the reported incidents from Color Day have warranted an alert to all parents and children to make them aware of the dangers of Orbeez guns,” the department said. “These are NOT water guns. They are firing a projectile with the aid of a battery-operated mechanical system sending the projectile a significant distance.”
Police noted that the manufacturers create Orbeezes to resemble actual guns and use the names of known firearm manufacturers to increase sales.
According to Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric, “They look harmless, they look like they’re fun to use, they’re marketed as crafts, as a toy for children with autism.” The CPSC has stated that between 2017 to 2022, children ingesting water beads resulted in 4,500 emergency room visits with serious internal injuries, lifelong health impacts, and at least one death.
The post continues:
This fact is a serious concern for any individual who may be carrying the Orbeez gun in public. These guns are a significant safety issue if there is not the proper eye protection and other safety precautions. Juveniles may not understand the necessity of safety precautions and the guidelines to not aim at a person’s face. The manufacturers clearly state the necessity for eye protection and no exposed skin when utilizing these guns. If proper safety equipment is not utilized these guns pose a serious risk of injury to a person if struck in the head region or other exposed body parts. Adding irritants or coating the projectiles in irritants could cause severe injury if the projectile strikes a child or anyone in the eye.
We are sharing this information, so all our residents are aware of the Orbeez guns and the safety considerations. We also want to make sure that our children understand the safety concerns and follow the safety guidelines of these guns when utilizing them.
If you have questions regarding this community notification, please contact Chief Scott at tscott@jenkintownpd.org or 215-884-1202 ext. 101.
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.
Photo: JPD