Officers Respond To ‘Man With Gun’ Call At Downtown Nightclub

Date: Monday, March 27, 2023

File: 23-10915

Victoria, BC – A Saanich man was arrested and a CO₂ powered handgun was seized after VicPD responded to a call for a patron armed with a handgun early Sunday morning.

At approximately 2 am on Sunday, March 26, all available officers responded to a report of a man armed with a gun inside a nightclub in the 0-block of Bastion Square. When officers arrived, they discovered security staff had disarmed the suspect and were holding him for police.

Officers learned that the suspect had dropped what appeared to be a fully-functional handgun, picked it up and placed it in his waistband. Security staff spotted the gun, created an action plan, called 911 and immediately moved in, disarming him within two minutes of spotting the weapon.

Officers were on scene moments later and, upon further investigation, confirmed the nature of the weapon. Powered by CO₂ and designed to fire paintballs, rubber balls or pepper balls, the gun resembles a fully functional firearm. A photograph of the seized weapon is below.

 

The man was transported to VicPD cells.

This incident remains under investigation. If you have information about this incident and have yet to speak with an officer, please call the VicPD Report Desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1.

VicPD officers seize an average of one real, functional firearms and one replica firearm each week. Based on real firearms and “replica firearms” seized in 2022, when encountering a report of a firearm, officers face a 50/50 chance that it is a real, functioning gun.

If you see someone with what looks to be a gun, call 911.

If you have information about illegal firearms in your neighbourhood, please call the VicPD report desk at (250) 995-7654 extension 1. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

-30-

We’re seeking qualified candidates for both police officer and civilian positions. Thinking about a career in public service? VicPD is an equal opportunity employer. Join VicPD and help us make Victoria and Esquimalt a safer community together.