Appleton pool closes early after a boy is seen carrying a BB gun that looks like a real firearm
APPLETON – Erb Park Pool closed early Thursday after a boy was seen carrying two BB guns resembling real firearms.
Shortly before 4 p.m., Appleton police were dispatched to the pool, located at 1800 N. Morrison St., after a worker saw someone carrying a gun. Officers located three juvenile boys who appeared to be involved; one had two BB guns in his possession, according to the Appleton Police Department.
One of the guns was a black handgun-style BB gun and the other was a black and translucent BB rifle with a collapsible stock that also fired plastic BB pellets, police said.
While no one was injured or appeared directly threatened, people at the pool were sheltered inside changing areas while they awaited police response, police said. After the incident, park staff closed the pool for the day.
The guns were confiscated and "disciplinary action is pending," according to police.
In a news release, Appleton police warned that "facsimile firearms" like BB guns, Orbeez guns and airsoft guns can be mistaken as real weapons, with potentially "catastrophic" results.
"Parents, please keep these types of incidents in mind when determining if these types of facsimile guns are appropriate for your children to have. These facsimile guns pose significant safety concerns as others may not immediately recognize them as BB-style guns," Appleton police said in the release. "In addition, many of these also fire some form of projectile, oftentimes fired by use of compressed air, and would also pose a safety risk without proper protective equipment being worn."
Last month, Green Bay police shared similar safety concerns after two incidents involving fake guns.
RELATED: Police warn of dangers of 'facsimile firearms' after 2 incidents in Green Bay this week
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Erb Park Pool closes early in Appleton after boy carries BB gun
