Two teenagers were taken into custody in Newark following an incident where someone was struck in the face with a gel blaster projectile at a local shopping center.
Police officers were called to Brookside Shopping Center on the unit block of Marrows Road at approximately 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, after receiving reports that an individual had been hit in the face by an unidentified object.
Initially, authorities believed the projectile was from a paintball gun, but the investigation revealed the teens had used a gel blaster device. Law enforcement officials gathered descriptions of two suspects during their response to the scene.
The incident highlights growing concerns about the misuse of gel blaster toys, which can cause injury when used improperly or aimed at people without consent.
