The State Police confirmed the home search, but declined to answer questions about what they found. Mr. Moraghan said, “Nothing was found in either boy’s home that could in any way give credence to what they claim the boys were going to do.”

Prosecutors declined to answer questions about the case because the defendants were juveniles.

The Litchfield Public Schools superintendent, Lynn K. McMullin, said in an email on Wednesday that “there was no credible threat and students were never in physical danger.” She did not respond to a message left for her on Thursday.

The boys did not face any weapons charges.

Some residents here said the costumes played on widespread fears in a town that is less than an hour from Newtown, where the elementary school massacre in 2012 took place, even if the costumes were only a hollow threat.

“Any threat made in Connecticut is taken very seriously because of what happened here,” said James O’Shea, a longtime resident and co-owner of West Street Grill, which overlooks the town green. “You can’t joke about something so lethal. The loss of children and the devastation for the parents — it just destroys the community and whole state.”

Others said that if the boys did not intend to execute a threat of violence, there were better ways to handle the situation.

“It’s a prank,” Joe Radano said. “They shouldn’t be charged with a felony. You’re going to ruin a kid’s life? Now everyone is going to look down on them. This is a small community.”

Opinions about the arrests were sometimes mixed within the same families.

Jared Guilmart, a freshman at Litchfield High School, stopped at a Dunkin’ Donuts with his mother, Deb Guilmart, after school. “I think it was stupid,” Jared said, referring to the costumes, but he added that he thought the charges were justified.