Pokémon Go's complete takeover of the digital world continues with more insane news. At this point, you may have read about the unwitting Pokémon Go trainers who have discovered dead bodies while on their quests to catch 'em all, the Vaporeon spotting in Central Park that caused a stampede, or any of the other strange occurrences that have arisen from the augmented reality game. If all that weren't shocking enough, a Florida homeowner allegedly opened fire on two teenagers playing the game after mistaking them for burglars.
The unidentified 37-year-old told police that he spotted the two teenagers, ages 16 and 19, sitting in a white parked car near his Palm Coast house at around 1:30 a.m., the Huffington Postreports. Apparently the man was awoken by a loud noise and went outside to investigate, armed with a handgun.
As he approached the vehicle, the man reportedly overheard one of the teenagers say, "Did you get anything?"—of course referencing capturing Pokémon in the game—and he misconstrued the words, assuming the two were up to trouble. He then stepped in front of the car and ordered them not to move, but when the driver sped toward him in an attempt to escape, the man allegedly shot at the car several times.
Police arrived on the scene, interviewed the homeowner, and attempted to trace the vehicle. The 19-year-old's mother ended up contacting the police after noticing bullet holes all over the car. According to the Sheriff's Office statement, the teenage boys did not contact police enforcement or tell their parents about the incident because they thought someone was just trying to scare them.
It may be hard to keep your head on straight as the Pokémon Go craze continues its takeover, but remember to use common sense and train responsibly. Your mission to catch 'em all is certainly not as important as your life.
