New York Teen With Toy Gun Allegedly Shot Dead By Off-Duty Correction Officer

KEY POINTS

Raymond Chaluisant, 18, was found dead in the passenger seat of a car
It is unclear whether Chaluisant had initially shot at the officer with a toy gun
The officer was charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon

New York City -- A correction officer has been arrested for allegedly fatally shooting an 18-year-old man in the Bronx, while off duty.

Raymond Chaluisant was found dead with a toy gun, which authorities believe he was using for a TikTok challenge.

Chaluisant was sitting in the passenger seat of a silver Acura at the southeast corner of the Cross Bronx Expressway & Morris Avenue when he was shot to death by Dion Middleton, 45, early Thursday morning. The teenager’s body was found a few blocks away from the shooting at the northwest corner of Grand Concourse and East Tremont Avenue in Mount Hope, the New York Post reported.

Authorities found Chaluisant at around 1.30 a.m. unconscious and unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his face. An Orbeez water gun, that was lying on his lap, fell out when the vehicle’s door was opened.

The teenager was pronounced dead at the hospital, the cops said.

Investigators took Middleton, an off-duty correction officer, into custody after they searched footage from the nearby surveillance cameras.

It was unclear whether Chaluisant had fired at Middleton with the Orbeez gun before the correction officer shot him, according to NBC New York.

Middleton was charged with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon.

The Orbeez gun is part of the latest social media sensation that has caught the interest of youngsters. TikTokers have been using these amped-up water guns for a viral challenge, where they shoot bead pellets filled with water at people. Several videos have captured teens in moving vehicles and firing the water beads at others.

NYPD released a warning after the deadly shooting, and explained Orbeez blasters are considered air rifles, making it illegal to possess them in New York City.

Bead Blasters shoot gel water beads propelled by a spring-loaded air pump, making them an air rifle. Air rifles are a violation in NYC & are unlawful to possess.

Violators found in possession of these will be issued a criminal summons & the weapon will be confiscated. pic.twitter.com/otLkGAHFu4
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 21, 2022

Commissioner Louis Molina of the New York City Department of Correction released a statement in light of the incident, and noted that Middleton has been working as a correction officer since January 2013, CBS News reported.

“These very serious charges are in no way a reflection of the officers who work to keep our city safe every day,” the statement said. “This officer will be immediately suspended without pay, and if the charges are true he will face the full consequences of the law and be terminated.”