Fredericton police say a 13-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with a weapons incident at Regent Mall.
In a news release Tuesday, police said the teen, who cannot be identified, is facing a single count of pointing a firearm.
Police descended on the mall around 4 p.m. Saturday after receiving reports of an altercation where a firearm had been seen.
“Officers proceeded to secure the premise and evacuate people from the building, while others inside were directed to shelter in place.
Members of the Emergency Response Team conducted a thorough search of the building, but they found no threat to public safety.
A photo of the replica firearm police say they seized following a weapons incident at Regent Mall in Fredericton. (Image: Fredericton Police Force/submitted)
Investigators determined that the fight involved two groups of youth and that the suspect with the firearm had left the mall before officers arrived.
Police said officers seized the weapon, which was determined to be an air-powered BB gun.
“It is often very difficult to distinguish replica firearms from the real thing, and when used in the commission of a crime, there is no difference under the Criminal Code between an authentic and a replica firearm,” police said in the release.
“While air powered firearms are readily available for public use without a firearms license, it is important to note that care should be taken to use them properly, and certainly not for fun or to threaten public safety.”
The teen was released from police custody and will appear in court in September.
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