A newly purchased replica gun drew a strong response from Nanaimo RCMP on Friday, July 30, after an onlooker saw its new owner loading it in the Woodgrove Centre parking lot. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

FAKE GUN

Couple arrested after showing off replica firearm at Woodgrove Centre

Jul 30, 2021 | 6:22 PM

NANAIMO — A fake gun generated a very real response from local Mounties.

A large number of Nanaimo RCMP officers descended onto the parking lot outside Walmart at Woodgrove Centre around 10 a.m. on Friday, July 30, when a 911 caller said they saw a man loading a handgun.

Police arrested a 22-year-old man and an accompanying woman without incident, uncovering a replica Remington 1875 CO2 revolver which he had recently purchased and was loading in the parking lot.

The replica handgun confiscated by Nanaimo RCMP after a 911 call said its new owner was loading it in the Walmart parking lot. (submitted photo/Nanaimo RCMP)

“Not only was it foolish to bring the firearm out in a parking lot, it was extremely dangerous. His actions diverted officers from their regular duties, and prevented them from responding to other calls for service,” Cst. Gary O’Brien said in a release.

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Police confiscated the gun, while the two people involved were released without charges.

Nanaimo RCMP are reminding people in the wake of the incident, police will respond in force and en masse to firearms-related calls, regardless of what the final outcome might be.

“Police officers will always respond to gun calls as if they are real, and they will consider the gun to be authentic until such time it has been proven to be a replica or toy,” O’Brien added.

The gun will be destroyed by RCMP.

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