Richmond police detained a group of juveniles Monday after a passerby spotted what appeared to be a handgun, but turned out to be a BB gun.
Officers responded to videos circulating on social media showing the teens brandishing what looked like a firearm and passing it among themselves. Treating the call as high-risk, RPD officers conducted a tactical detention to ensure public safety. After securing the scene, they determined the object was a BB gun rather than a real firearm and released the juveniles once no threat remained.
In its statement, RPD emphasized that realistic-looking BB or replica firearms can easily be misidentified by bystanders or law-enforcement.
“Brandishing or carrying them in public can place community members—and the individuals holding them—at serious risk,” police said, adding, “Please speak with your children and teens about the dangers associated with replica or BB guns.”
