RICHMOND — Richmond police officers detained a group of juveniles at gun point earlier this week after they said they received reports they were brandishing a gun.
It turned out the gun in question was a BB gun that was missing the bright orange tip. Video of the incident made the rounds on social media. As a result, police have put out a statement explaining their actions.
In a statement, police said they responded at an undisclosed time Monday afternoon after a community member reported seeing the group brandish what appeared to be a gun. Police did not immediately say where the incident happened.
According to police, the group of underage kids passed the gun around and examined it.
Based on what they knew, officers conducted a high-risk enforcement stop and detainment — one in which they order others to show their hands and draw their guns.
“Given the information provided and realistic appearance of the object, officers conducted a high-risk detention to ensure everyone’s safety,” police wrote in their statement. “Upon investigation, officers determined the item was a BB gun, not a real firearm. The juveniles were released after the scene was made safe.”
Police showed a picture of the gun on its own social media pages, and said the incident and picture show it can be difficult for officers and people to determine which guns are real and which are not. BB guns are required by law to have the bright orange tip to distinguish them from real guns, police said.
“This incident serves as an important reminder: BB guns and replica firearms can easily be mistaken for real weapons, especially during fast-moving situations,” police wrote. “Brandishing or carrying them in public can place community members — and the individuals holding them — at serious risk. We are glad this incident was resolved without anyone being injured, but it underscores an important message — leave your BB guns or replica firearms at home!”
Police released the teenagers to a parent who later came to the scene.