MANHASSET, NY – Startled by a Halloween mix-up, a Long Island resident found himself in a harrowing situation when he allegedly pointed a gun at a 6-year-old boy who mistakenly left Halloween treats on his porch. The incident occurred on Saturday night and has left the community shaken.
Nassau County Police have identified the suspect as 43-year-old Michael Wen, who is now facing charges for endangering the welfare of a child. According to authorities, Wen brandished a firearm and aimed it at the 6-year-old when he attempted to retrieve a bag of candy his sister may have accidentally left on the wrong porch.
The child’s mother had driven her kids and nephew to a residence on Rockcrest Road in Manhasset to partake in a Halloween tradition known as “boo-ing.” This tradition involves anonymously leaving a goodie bag on someone’s front doorstep, as described by Hallmark.
In this unsettling turn of events, the daughter walked up to what she believed was her friend’s house, rang the doorbell, and placed the “boo basket” on the doorstep. Realizing her potential mistake, she quickly texted her friend to confirm the address, but by then, her family had returned to retrieve the candy.
Perceiving the situation as a misunderstanding, the 6-year-old ventured onto Wen’s porch to search for the goodie bag. It was at this moment that Wen allegedly confronted the child, brandishing a gun and using strong language to order him off the property.
Wen, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, has not commented on the incident. His attorney, William Zou, referred to the situation as a misunderstanding, emphasizing that Wen is a married man and loving father who has been on edge. Zou also shared surveillance footage of two strangers banging on Wen’s door the night before, claiming that his family had been terrorized.
As Halloween approaches, concerns have arisen among neighbors about trick-or-treaters visiting Wen’s house. Officials have seized all of Wen’s firearms, suspended his gun license, and issued an order of protection.