A team of RCMP converged on three youths, when it was reported to police that a possible weapon was being brandished.
The youths - a 15-year-old male, 16-year-old female and an 18-year-old male - were located in the vicinity of Queensway and 17th Avenue at about 12:20 p.m. Thursday. Mounties were informed that one of the males was seen acting suspiciously when a police patrol happened to go by a few moments earlier.
"The male was seen by witnesses pulling what appeared to be a hand gun out of his waist band and dropping it near the sidewalk," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "Once the police vehicle passed by, the male went back to the location and retrieved the item."
Multiple police officers responded to this report, in the event that the item was in fact a firearm.
"A paintball gun believed to have been the item seen by witnesses, was located," Douglass said. "The gun was seized and the three were released without charges."
Police have repeatedly reminded the public that paintball, beebee, airsoft, even children's toy guns can bear a remarkable likeness to actual firearms. In the interest of public safety, police must assume the maximum danger when they are confronted with such items.
