Middletown police say three teens face charges in connection to a nationwide trend involving toy guns and drive-by-style shootings that has made its way to the Hudson Valley.

It started out as a water pellet gun prank between kids and parents, but now the so-called Orbeez Challenge has teens targeting unsuspecting people in public with drive-by-style shootings.

Middletown School Superintendent Amy Creeden is urging parents to talk with their kids about the dangers of the challenge after several students simulated drive-by shootings with toy guns in the community last week.

"Pointing a gun real or fake has real consequences, and I cannot stress enough the dangers involved when individuals decide to participate in reckless, destructive challenges," says Creeden.

Wallkill police are also investigating a similar drive-by shooting in which a person was hit outside TD Bank. A News 12 viewer sent a picture of his damaged windshield that was shot at by a passing car while he was driving in the Town of Crawford.

Orbeez-style incidents and arrests are popping up nationwide.

Police captured body cam video of two suspects taken into custody in the state of Florida.

Police shared surveillance video of a mother getting shot at with her toddler in a stroller and a truck driver hit by pellets from a passing car.

Authorities are warning the public that this latest challenge is not harmless and is frightening to people. They say anyone caught will be arrested.

People were injured in several attacks elsewhere in the U.S. That includes a child struck in the face with pellets and a woman who was left with multiple welts on her