MANHASSET, NY – A 6-year-old boy in Manhasset, Long Island, had a terrifying encounter when he mistakenly left a Halloween goody bag with candy on a front porch. The incident unfolded around 7:30 p.m. last Saturday.
According to Nassau County police, a 42-year-old woman had driven her daughter, two sons, and a nephew to 138 Rockcrest Road to deliver the Halloween treats. The 6-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister rang the doorbell of what they believed to be their friend’s house and left the candy on the porch before departing. However, they soon realized that the address may have been incorrect, prompting them to return.
As the children’s mother drove away, the boy bravely went to retrieve the candy. At that moment, a male emerged from the house, brandishing a black handgun and pointing it at the young boy’s head. He yelled, “Get the f–k off my property!” in a shocking turn of events. The suspect was identified as 43-year-old Michael Yifan Wen and was subsequently arrested on charges of second-degree menacing. He also has been arrested for endangering the welfare of a child.
Wen was arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead, where he pleaded not guilty to both charges and was released without bail. An order of protection was issued, and he is scheduled to return to court on Nov. 13. Authorities have confiscated all of Wen’s firearms in light of the incident.
Wen declined to comment, following the advice of his Queens-based attorney, William X. Zou. Zou revealed that Wen and his family had been living in fear due to recent incidents involving their home, including late-night door banging and strangers knocking on their door and running away.
Despite the tense situation, Zou emphasized that Wen’s actions were a result of a misunderstanding. This incident highlights a series of high-profile cases where individuals have confronted the wrong doorbell ringers with firearms, raising concerns about safety and misunderstandings in such situations.