BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A TikTok challenge is causing concern and bringing some charges against young people in Bellingham.

Bellingham Police say they have responded to more than a dozen incidents involving people shooting others with Orbeez, which are small polymer pellets that get squishy when they absorb water.

Officers most recently responded on June 18th to reports of someone shooting an airsoft gun at people from a car’s sunroof at two locations on Holly Street and at the intersection of Cornwall and Laurel.

They determined a middle school-aged boy was shooting Orbeez gels at people.

No injuries were reported but Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says there is probable cause to charge the person with assault.

Assault charges have been filed against three people in connection with similar incidents, and Murphy says charges can rise to the felony level if someone receives a significant eye or other injury.

There is also concern that toy guns being fired at people could be mistaken for real weapons and draw a deadly response.

Orbeez were also involved in a recent robbery arrest.

Bellingham Police say officers were called to the TJ Maxx store on Meridian Street on Sunday, June 18th, after a suspect left the store with merchandise he did not pay for.

A loss prevention officer followed but a person in the suspect’s vehicle shot at them with what was later determined to be Orbeez gels.

A responding State Trooper pinned their vehicle with his bumper but the suspect rammed his patrol car and another vehicle to get away.

An off-and-on chase ensued up I-5 to Blaine where the vehicle, which had been stolen in Seattle, was found in the grassy median at the Peace Arch.

Canadian Customs officers had quickly apprehended the driver, Jordan Richardson of Seattle.

They transferred him to U.S. authorities, and he was booked into the Whatcom County Jail.

Here’s a full list of the other airsoft incidents from BPD:

4-9-22, 7:30 p.m. 1900 Barkley Blvd, driver reported car being struck by objects.  In checking they discovered small liquid filled gel pellets had struck the car.  No damage, no injuries, but if the window had been open the driver would have been struck.

5-6-22, 9:55 p.m., 3100 blk Tanglewood Ln, group of juveniles shooting Orbeez at a house.  No damage reported. Juveniles spoken to about choices they made.

7-10-22, 6:35 p.m., 400 block of E. Holly St, driver and passenger of a car were struck in their faces (one near the eye) with small objects.  They looked and found it was coming from a car speeding past them.  Investigation ended with an arrest for assault 4th degree of 20-year-old Schon T. Benavides, Pullman, WA.

8-16-22, 9:39 p.m., 3200 block Northwest Ave, two people walking were hit with pellets as they were walking.  A car sped past them from which the objects were shot. Victims had welts, no suspects could be found.

8-16-22, 11:22 p.m., officers called to a possible burglary in progress, with people running around with ‘rifles.’  Investigation revealed (via captured video) it was likely an Orbeez battle between friends and the ‘rifle’ was an Orbeez gun.  No injuries reported, but people thought there was a real burglary and people shooting weapons.

10-16-22, 12:30 a.m., 900 N. Garden, three people reported being shot by a bb gun.  All three reported being struck, but no injuries reported – the clothing absorbed the velocity of the object. The investigation revealed it was an Orbeez gun and was being shot from a car by two people, 19-year-old Jayden L. Cano, Bellingham, and 18-year-old Dominic A. Whiteman, Bellingham.  Both were issued citations for Assault 4th degree and Reckless Endangerment, the Orbeez gun was recovered.

1-3-23, 9:00 p.m., 4100 block Meridian St, report of high school students in a black car shooting Orbeez gels at younger students as they walk through a parking lot.  This was a secondhand report, no suspects or victims identified.

2-3-23, 10:30 p.m., 1500 N State St, car driving by shooting Orbeez at a pedestrian on sidewalk.  Witnessed by another person who was struck by a gel, no injuries.  Person originally struck walked away before officers arrived.  No suspects identified.

2-10-23, 7:42 p.m., 4100 blk Eliza Ave, person walking her dog hit with projectiles, no injuries reported.  Officers located orange Orbeez gels.  No suspects found.  No injuries reported.

3-13-23, 6:41 p.m., 3700 blk E. McLeod Rd, car drove by tennis practice shooting objects from the vehicle at the team practice.  One adult was struck in the back of the neck with a gel pellet, no injury reported.  No suspects identified.

3-27-23, 6:59 p.m., 2700 St Clair Pl, kids shot at house, no damage, Orbeez gun.  Kids found, talked to about dangers, victim did not wish to press charges as there was no damage.

4-15-23, 4:07 p.m., 4000 block Eliza Ave, group of juveniles shot at a friends house with Orbeez, which another adult mistook for something else and began chasing them in a vehicle.  Officers thought they were investigating a road rage until it became clear this all started with the Orbeez being fired as a prank.  No one arrested.

5-12-23, 6:44 p.m., 2200 blk of Electric Ave, group of high schoolers shot a middle school student at the park with an Orbeez gun.  Victim has welts on their back.  No suspects identified.