Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024 

File: 24-46778 

Victoria, BC – VicPD is reminding the public about the dangers of possessing replica firearms, after one was seized following reports of a fight between five males in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue last night. 

Shortly prior to 9:00 p.m. on December 18, VicPD received a report of five males fighting in the 900-block of Pandora Avenue. The males had all dispersed, but security guards in the area reported that they saw one of the males brandishing what appeared to be a handgun during the altercation. 

Officers located the suspect nearby and, due to the threat posed by the reported firearm, numerous other weapons seen in the immediate vicinity of the suspect, and his refusal to comply with police commands, officers detained the male at gunpoint. Once safely arrested, officers located the firearm and determined it to be a Glock-branded pellet gun. The male elected to relinquish the replica firearm when officers educated him on how dangerous his actions were and the potential outcomes. 

In situations where real or imitation firearms are involved, officers must make split-second, life or death decisions on how they respond. For officer safety, we treat all firearms as real until proven otherwise. Below is an image of a functioning firearm and the replica seized, demonstrating the similarities in appearance between the real and replica firearm. 

                         

From a Quick Glance, Can You Tell Which Firearm Is Real or Fake? 

Officers regularly encounter both real and replica firearms in the line of duty, which poses serious safety risks to the public, the individuals carrying them, and responding officers. So far in 2024, a total of 80 real and replica firearms were seized while responding to calls for service.  

Though replica firearms like this are not illegal, their appearance can cause alarm in the community, especially when they are tucked into waistbands or visible from back pockets or bags, often leading to resource-intensive, high-priority responses. We encourage the community to continue reporting to police if they suspect someone may be in possession of a firearm in public.   

The file has been concluded, and no additional details are available. 

-30-