Toy gun lands
boy in custody
BELVEDERE--A toy gun is at the centre of a case against a teenage boy whom police arrested on Tuesday for threatening a younger boy and his mother in Belvedere, police reported Wednesday.
The teen and two older friends were walking to the district’s basketball court when an errant comment from a 10-year-old turned into a verbal tirade that ended with the 15-year-old suspect lifting his shirt and revealing what appeared to be a black pistol tucked into his pants. The gun later turned out to be a toy.
The younger boy’s mother, who was in the area when the teenager flashed the gun, went after her son and chided the teen. In response, he revealed a machete he was carrying and threatened her. It was then that police were called to the scene.
Apparently, the comment that started this scene was something to the effect of, “Hey, boy, go change your pants,” from the 10-year-old to the 15-year-old, police spokesman Chief Inspector Johan “Janchi” Leonard said. The young boy was in a group of boys around his own age when he made the remark.
Police detained all three teenagers at the scene in Belvedere, but released the two 16-year-olds after reprimanding them. The 15-year-old was still in police custody up until press time last night, for possessing the weapon and threatening the younger boy.
