Leander Juvenile Charged After Gel Blaster Hits 12‑Year‑Old

Two 12-year-old girls out for a scooter ride in northwest Leander ended up in a criminal case, after police say a gel blaster fired from a passing car hit both kids and left one with a facial injury serious enough to trigger a felony charge.

According to Leander police, the May 24 incident happened on the 600 block of Los Robles Road when a beige sedan rolled by and a passenger opened fire with a gel blaster. One girl was struck just below her left eye and suffered a minor facial injury. The second girl was hit in the chest. Investigators say they believe the attack was random and that everyone involved is a juvenile.

CBS Austin reports the shots were fired around 7:47 p.m., with the passenger allegedly shooting multiple rounds from an Orbeez-style gel blaster over the roof of the car. The outlet notes that at first the injured girl thought she had been hit with a paintball, only later learning the projectiles were gel pellets that swell with water.

Lt. Mike Mohler of the Leander Police Department told reporters that detectives quickly identified a primary suspect and that “that suspect will be charged with injury to a child.” Because the victim is under 14 and sustained an injury, Mohler said the case is being treated as a felony. He also used the incident as a cautionary tale, warning that “any toy can be misused” and urging parents to talk with their kids about what can happen when play crosses the line into criminal behavior, according to CBS Austin.

Legal outlook for an "injury to a child" charge

In Texas, “injury to a child” is defined in Penal Code §22.04 and covers causing bodily injury, serious bodily injury or serious mental impairment to someone who is 14 or younger. Depending on the person’s intent and how severe the harm is, the offense can range from a state-jail felony to a first-degree felony. The statute is outlined in Texas Penal Code §22.04.

Not an isolated trend

This is not the only recent case involving gel blasters. Earlier this month in Seminole County, Florida, two teens were accused of driving around and shooting pedestrians with gel-ball guns, according to ClickOrlando. Law enforcement agencies and national outlets have been flagging the so-called “Orbeez Challenge” for years, warning that videos of people being ambushed with water-gel beads may look like pranks but can quickly land kids in handcuffs. NPR reported on those warnings in 2022.

What parents and neighbors can do

Mohler urged parents and caregivers to get ahead of incidents like this by having clear, no-nonsense conversations about the risks of using “toy” guns on unsuspecting people and by supervising how kids use any kind of projectile device. Police say any photos, videos, or tips from the public can be critical in identifying suspects and sorting out who did what.

Officers advise that if you see a car cruising through a neighborhood while someone fires projectiles in public, you should call 911 rather than attempt to confront anyone yourself.

Leander police say everyone involved in the Los Robles Road incident is a juvenile and, because of their ages, their names will not be released. Detectives in the department’s Criminal Investigations Division are still working the case and will send their findings to prosecutors, who will decide on formal charges. The department’s non-emergency line and the city’s website list contact information for anyone with tips, and investigators are encouraging families to use this case as a prompt for talking with kids about safe, lawful play.